What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?

Most owner-operators see operating costs in the range of $1.50 to $2.20 per mile, depending on truck age, route type, insurance costs, and fuel efficiency. Newer trucks with high payments push the number up; paid-off trucks with good fuel economy push it down. The key is knowing your own number — not an industry average.

Should I include my own salary in cost per mile?

If you are calculating cost per mile to determine break-even and profitability, you should include a realistic owner pay estimate in your fixed or variable costs. Many owner-operators forget to account for their own labor, which skews their profit picture.

How often should I recalculate my cost per mile?

Recalculate at least quarterly, or any time a major cost changes — new truck payment, insurance renewal, or a significant shift in diesel prices. Even a $0.20/gallon fuel swing can move your cost per mile by several cents, which matters over thousands of miles.

What costs count as fixed vs. variable?

Fixed costs stay the same regardless of miles driven: truck payment, insurance, permits, and any lease fees. Variable costs scale with miles: fuel, oil changes, tires, and maintenance parts. Some costs like maintenance fall in between — budget a consistent monthly amount even though actual spending fluctuates.

How do I use my cost per mile to decide whether to take a load?

Your break-even rate is the floor. Any load paying less than your cost per mile across total miles driven — loaded plus deadhead — means you're covering expenses but not making money. Most owner-operators want at least $0.30–$0.50 above their cost per mile to make a run worth taking. The tighter your margin, the more carefully each load decision needs to be evaluated.

Cost Per Mile Calculator

Last updated: June 2026

Enter your monthly fixed costs, variable costs, and miles to get your operating cost per mile, break-even rate, and a target rate that includes your profit goal.

Results are estimates only — not financial advice.

Fill in your costs above and click Calculate to see your cost per mile.

What this calculator does

Your cost per mile is the single most important number in trucking — it tells you the floor below which any load rate destroys money. This calculator divides your total monthly expenses (fixed + variable) by your monthly mileage to give you that floor. Add a profit target and it shows you the rate you actually need to hit to make money.

Inputs explained

Fixed costs — expenses that don't change with miles: truck payment, insurance, permits, base plate, lease fees.
Variable costs — expenses that scale with driving: fuel, oil changes, tires, maintenance parts. If you're unsure, estimate fuel separately using the Fuel Cost Calculator and add it here.
Monthly miles — use your typical monthly average, not your best month. Optimistic miles will understate your true cost per mile.
Target profit — what you want left over after all costs, before personal income tax.

Formula

Total Costs = Fixed Costs + Variable Costs

Operating Cost / Mile = Total Costs ÷ Monthly Miles

Target Rate / Mile = (Total Costs + Target Profit) ÷ Monthly Miles

Example

$3,500 in fixed costs plus $5,200 in variable costs = $8,700/month total. At 10,000 miles/month: cost per mile = $0.87. With a $4,000 profit target: target rate = $12,700 ÷ 10,000 = $1.27/mile.

These are simplified numbers to show the math. A realistic loaded OTR driver with fuel included typically sees total costs of $1.50–$2.20/mile, depending on truck age, insurance tier, and lane type. Your number is the only one that matters.

Where the money actually goes

Most owner-operators running OTR fall somewhere between $1.50 and $2.20 per mile all-in, but that range covers a wide spread of situations. A driver with a paid-off truck, good fuel economy, and several years of clean safety history sits near the bottom. One with a new truck payment, new authority insurance rates, and aging tires sits near the top.

Here's a rough picture of what drives those numbers:

Fuel — typically $0.55–$0.70/mile at current diesel prices for a loaded Class 8 truck averaging around 6.5 MPG. This moves every time diesel prices shift, which is why a static cost-per-mile figure becomes stale fast.
Insurance — roughly $0.10–$0.20/mile for combined primary liability and physical damage. New authority carriers often pay significantly more until their safety record matures, sometimes double the rate of an established operator.
Truck payment — often $0.12–$0.25/mile for a financed truck at 10,000 miles/month. That same $1,800/month payment costs you $0.18/mile at 10,000 miles but $0.225/mile at 8,000 miles — which is why optimistic mileage assumptions understate your true cost.
Maintenance — typically $0.08–$0.15/mile budgeted across oil changes, tires, and unexpected repairs for a truck in reasonable shape. This is the cost most people underestimate until a major repair lands.

These are reference points, not targets. Your actual number depends on your specific truck, lanes, insurance situation, and how many miles you run. The calculator exists so you use your numbers, not someone else's.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?: Most owner-operators see operating costs in the range of $1.50 to $2.20 per mile, depending on truck age, route type, insurance costs, and fuel efficiency. Newer trucks with high payments push the number up; paid-off trucks with good fuel economy push it down. The key is knowing your own number — not an industry average.
Should I include my own salary in cost per mile?: If you are calculating cost per mile to determine break-even and profitability, you should include a realistic owner pay estimate in your fixed or variable costs. Many owner-operators forget to account for their own labor, which skews their profit picture.
How often should I recalculate my cost per mile?: Recalculate at least quarterly, or any time a major cost changes — new truck payment, insurance renewal, or a significant shift in diesel prices. Even a $0.20/gallon fuel swing can move your cost per mile by several cents, which matters over thousands of miles.
What costs count as fixed vs. variable?: Fixed costs stay the same regardless of miles driven: truck payment, insurance, permits, and any lease fees. Variable costs scale with miles: fuel, oil changes, tires, and maintenance parts. Some costs like maintenance fall in between — budget a consistent monthly amount even though actual spending fluctuates.
How do I use my cost per mile to decide whether to take a load?: Your break-even rate is the floor. Any load paying less than your cost per mile across total miles driven — loaded plus deadhead — means you're covering expenses but not making money. Most owner-operators want at least $0.30–$0.50 above their cost per mile to make a run worth taking. The tighter your margin, the more carefully each load decision needs to be evaluated.

Sources & Assumptions

Cost range reference ($1.50–$2.20/mile) is based on commonly reported owner-operator benchmarks and ATRI Operational Costs of Trucking data — not a target or recommendation.
Fixed/variable cost categories follow standard trucking industry accounting conventions.
Does not include self-employment tax, income tax, or depreciation.

Disclaimer: Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter. This tool does not account for every cost category. Not financial advice — verify with a qualified accountant.