OrangeCell ToolsHow do I know if a trucking load is worth taking?
Updated October 29, 2026 · OrangeCell Tools · Topic: HaulMath Trucking Tools
Short answer
Work out what the load leaves after every cost, then divide by the days it ties up the truck. Net load profit = linehaul + fuel surcharge + accessorials − fuel for all miles (loaded + deadhead) − maintenance reserve − driver pay − factoring and dispatch fees − tolls and lumper − your fixed costs for the days on the load. Compare net per day to your target. A high rate per mile on a load that burns three days can pay less than a lower-rate load that delivers tomorrow.
The checklist for any load offer
- Total revenue: linehaul + fuel surcharge + accessorials.
- All miles: loaded miles + deadhead to the pickup.
- Fuel on all miles: miles ÷ MPG × fuel price.
- Maintenance and tires reserve on all miles.
- Driver pay (yours or a driver's).
- Factoring or quick-pay fee and any dispatch fee (percentages of revenue).
- Tolls, lumper and scale fees.
- Fixed costs for the days the load takes: monthly fixed costs ÷ working days × days on the load.
Worked example (example numbers)
A 600-mile load paying $1,650 all-in, with 80 miles of deadhead, two days door to door. The truck gets 6.5 MPG, fuel is $3.80, the maintenance reserve is $0.18 per mile, factoring is 3%, and fixed costs are $5,200 a month over 22 working days.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $1,650.00 |
| Fuel (680 miles ÷ 6.5 × $3.80) | −$397.54 |
| Maintenance reserve (680 × $0.18) | −$122.40 |
| Factoring (3%) | −$49.50 |
| Fixed costs (2 days × $236.36) | −$472.73 |
| Left before driver pay | $607.83 (about $304 per day) |
Whether that is worth taking depends on your target. If you need $350 a day before driver pay, this load is a "negotiate": ask for the rate that hits your target, which here is about $1,745.
Rate per mile vs profit per day
Rate per mile ignores deadhead, detention and days out. Profit per day captures them. Use rate per loaded mile to screen offers quickly, and net per day to decide.
Tools for this
You can do this on a phone calculator in a couple of minutes. To do it in ten seconds for every offer, one option is the HaulMath Load Profit Calculator ($19 on Etsy), which shows net profit, net per day and a Take it / Negotiate / Pass verdict against your target, plus the minimum rate that hits it. It works best alongside a known cost per mile (see how to calculate cost per mile).
Frequently asked questions
What is a good rate per mile for an owner-operator?
Any rate above your own breakeven per loaded mile, by enough to meet your profit target. Breakeven differs truck to truck, so a rate that works for one operator can lose money for another.
Should I count fixed costs on a single load?
Yes, for the days the load takes. Your truck payment and insurance accrue while you run the load, and leaving them out makes slow loads look better than they are.
How do I compare a short load with a long one?
Compare net per day (or net per hour on very short hauls), including deadhead and waiting time, rather than total revenue or rate per mile.
Products mentioned
| Product | What it does | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Load Profit Calculator | Shows net profit, net per mile and net per day on any load offer, with a Take it / Negotiate / Pass verdict and the minimum rate that hits your target. | $19 |
| Cost Per Mile Calculator | Calculates your total, fixed, variable and driver cost per mile and your breakeven rate per loaded mile, with a rate check for any offered load. | $19 |
| Dispatch Board & Load Tracker | One row per load: tracks status, driver, broker, revenue, rate per mile, margin and invoice aging, with a live weekly dispatch board. | $29 |
Prices verified on Etsy October 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not tax, legal, financial or veterinary advice.