Freight Rate Per Mile Calculator — Loaded & Total Mile Analysis
Calculate your revenue per loaded mile and per total mile including deadhead. The most important metric for owner-operators evaluating load profitability.
🛣️ Freight Rate Per Mile Calculator
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter load revenue — the all-in amount the shipper/broker is paying — include FSC if quoted as a total.
- Enter loaded miles — from pickup to delivery. Use PC Miler or your ELD routing for accuracy.
- Enter deadhead miles — from your current location to pickup. This is the true cost of taking the load.
- Review total RPM — this is your real earnings rate. Always evaluate loads on total miles, not loaded miles.
Worked Example
An owner-operator is offered $2,400 for a 480-mile load, but the pickup is 90 miles away.
- RPM (Loaded): $2,400 ÷ 480 = $5.00/mi (looks great)
- Total Miles: 480 + 90 = 570 miles
- RPM (Total): $2,400 ÷ 570 = $4.21/mi (still good)
- Deadhead: 90 ÷ 570 = 15.8% empty
Despite the 90-mile deadhead the load is still highly profitable. But if the deadhead were 200 miles, RPM (total) drops to $3.66/mi and fuel costs increase significantly — this calculator makes that trade-off visible instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
In 2025–2026, owner-operators typically need $1.80–$2.20/mile all-in to cover operating costs and earn a profit. Rates above $2.50/mile are strong. Rates below $1.50/mile may not cover costs after fuel, insurance, and truck payments.
Always calculate on total miles including deadhead. Loaded-mile RPM is a vanity metric — it doesn't reflect the true cost of deadheading to pickup. Two loads with identical loaded RPM can have very different profitability based on deadhead distance.
Every deadhead mile costs you fuel, time, and wear without generating revenue. At $0.55/mile operating cost, 100 deadhead miles costs $55 with zero revenue — effectively reducing your net RPM on the following loaded run.
Owner-operator total cost per mile typically runs $1.40–$1.80/mile including fuel, insurance, truck payment, maintenance, and permits. Use the Owner-Operator Net Income Calculator for a full cost breakdown.