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Truck fuel & deadhead cost calculator

Start with your mileage, fuel economy, and costs. See an estimate based on your figures rather than an assumed market rate.

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Your trip, your figures

Illustrative example shown. Change any figure to compare your own trip.

Your figures stay in this browser page. They are not submitted or saved.

THE WHOLE TRIP

See the costs behind the payment.

Estimated fuel cost$400.00100 US gallons
Total entered trip cost$850.00Estimated fuel + other trip costs
Entered cost per total mile$1.21700 total trip miles

This estimate includes only the costs you enter. A positive balance is not necessarily profit; unentered overhead, taxes, time, and other costs are excluded.

HOW IT WORKS

The calculation, explained.

  • Estimated US gallons = total miles ÷ MPG
  • Estimated fuel cost = gallons × entered price per gallon
  • Entered trip cost = estimated fuel cost + other costs
  • Remaining balance = Load payment − entered trip cost
WORKED EXAMPLE

A trip you can compare.

For 700 total miles at 7 MPG, estimated tractor fuel use is 100 US gallons. At $4.00 per gallon, fuel costs $400. Add $450 in other costs and the entered trip cost is $850. From a $1,800 payment, $950 remains before any costs not entered.

Questions worth asking

Does this use live diesel prices?

No. Enter your own planning price. The example price is illustrative, not a current market quote.

Does this include Reefer fuel, taxes, or overhead?

Only if you include those amounts in Other trip costs. The MPG calculation estimates tractor fuel; other equipment and business expenses are not automatically added.

Put the numbers to work.

Create a business account to post loads or trucks, or browse available freight first. Review the lane, equipment, dates, and posting details before arranging a shipment.

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