AxleVaultAXLEVAULT
Free tool · no signup · works in the truck

Is that load worth it?

Pay, loaded miles, deadhead. Ten seconds later you'll know the real rate per mile, what the trip costs you, and what you'd actually keep.

The load

$
$
Not sure what you run per mile?
Rules of thumb per all-in mile for a one-truck operation:
Fuel$0.55 – $0.75
Truck & trailer payment$0.25 – $0.45
Insurance$0.12 – $0.22
Maintenance & tires$0.15 – $0.25
Everything else$0.20 – $0.40

Your real number moves every month with fuel and repairs — the AxleVault app computes it from your actual books and drops it straight into this calculator.

What you'd actually make

Enter the load to see the verdict
Rate / loaded mile—
Rate / all miles—
Estimated trip cost—
Profit on this load—

Find my real cost per mile — free
14-day trial · no card required · computed from your actual fuel, repairs & fixed costs

How the math works

Brokers quote loads per loaded mile, but your truck doesn't know the difference — deadhead burns the same fuel, tires, and hours and earns nothing. This calculator divides the full pay by all miles on the trip, applies your cost per mile to every one of them, and shows what's left. That's the number to negotiate with.

The default $1.75/mile is a reasonable middle for a one-truck operation, but nobody's costs are average: a paid-off truck with cheap insurance might run $1.35 while a financed truck in a bad fuel market runs $2.10. Two operators can look at the same load and one makes money while the other loses it — which is exactly why knowing your number wins negotiations.

What is a good rate per mile for owner-operators?
Spot rates move every week and vary by lane and equipment, so there's no single "good" number. The rate that matters is yours: what the load pays per all-in mile (including deadhead) versus what your truck actually costs per mile to run. If the spread is healthy, it's a good load in your market.
What does it cost per mile to run a truck?
Industry cost studies put all-in operating costs for a tractor-trailer roughly between $1.60 and $2.20 per mile once fuel, truck payment, insurance, maintenance, and permits are counted. Your own number is what counts — and it changes with fuel prices and repairs, which is why AxleVault computes it continuously from your actual books.
Why should deadhead miles count against a load?
Empty miles burn the same fuel, tires and hours as loaded ones but earn nothing. A $3.00-per-mile load with 200 deadhead miles can pay worse than a $2.30 load picking up nearby. Dividing the pay by ALL miles for the trip shows the truth.
Can this calculator use my real cost per mile automatically?
That's exactly what the AxleVault app does: it computes your cost per mile from your actual fuel purchases, maintenance and fixed costs, keeps it current as you log, and applies it inside the same calculator. $4.99/month after a 14-day free trial.
The app does this automatically

Stop guessing your cost per mile.

AxleVault computes your real cost per mile from your actual fuel, maintenance and fixed costs — and runs this exact calculator with your numbers, right on your dashboard.

Start your free trial

Free for 14 days, no card required — then $4.99/month. Now on Google Play, the App Store, and any browser.