What's a good cost-per-mile?

There's no single 'good' number — it depends on your truck, lanes, and fixed costs. What matters is knowing yours precisely so you can price loads above it. ATRI's industry averages are a useful benchmark, not a target.

Should I include my own pay in cost-per-mile?

Yes. Treat your take-home as a cost of the business. A load that only covers truck expenses but pays you nothing isn't profitable.

Understanding Your Settlement & Cost-Per-Mile

How to read a settlement, find your true cost-per-mile, and know which loads actually make money.

Key Facts

A settlement statement lists what you earned and every deduction — reconcile it weekly.
Cost-per-mile = (fixed costs + variable costs) ÷ miles run. It's your break-even number.
ATRI pegged the industry's average marginal (non-fuel) cost at $1.779 per mile in 2024.
Once you know your cost-per-mile, every rate quote becomes a yes/no decision instead of a guess.

Read your settlement

A settlement is the statement of what you earned and what was deducted — line-haul pay, fuel surcharge, advances, insurance, ELD, parking, and more. Reconcile it every week; deductions add up fast and mistakes happen.

Cost-per-mile is everything

Add your fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, permits) and variable costs (fuel, maintenance, tires) and divide by the miles you run. That number is your break-even. For scale: ATRI's 2025 analysis found the industry's average marginal (non-fuel) cost hit $1.779 per mile in 2024, and total average cost was $2.260 per mile. A $2.00/mile load looks great until you learn your cost is $1.85 — leaving 15 cents to live on.

Decide with numbers

Once you know your cost-per-mile, every rate quote becomes a yes/no decision instead of a guess. Track revenue and expenses consistently and the picture stays honest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a good cost-per-mile?: There's no single 'good' number — it depends on your truck, lanes, and fixed costs. What matters is knowing yours precisely so you can price loads above it. ATRI's industry averages are a useful benchmark, not a target.
Should I include my own pay in cost-per-mile?: Yes. Treat your take-home as a cost of the business. A load that only covers truck expenses but pays you nothing isn't profitable.