How to calculate driver pay
- Pick Per mile or % of load and enter the rate. For 65 cents a mile, type 0.65.
- Enter loaded miles for each load. Add the load's gross if you pay a percentage or want to see the carrier side.
- Open Paid deadhead or Deductions if they apply, then download the pay statement.
How it's calculated
% pay = gross × driver % ÷ 100
Deadhead pay = deadhead miles × deadhead rate (if paid)
Driver gets paid = earned − deductions
Left for the carrier = gross − earned pay
Example
500 loaded miles × $0.65 = $325, plus 50 deadhead miles × $0.40 = $20. Earned: $345. With a $25 deduction the driver gets $320. If the load paid $1,500, $1,155 is left for the carrier before its costs — the $25 isn't subtracted again.
For company drivers, CDL drivers, lease drivers and the fleet owners or dispatchers who prepare their settlements. All formulas: How TruckingDesk calculates.
Questions
How do I calculate truck driver pay per mile?
Multiply loaded miles by the rate per mile. 500 miles at $0.65 is $325. Add deadhead pay only if the driver is paid for empty miles.
How does percentage pay work for truck drivers?
The driver earns a share of each load's gross. 25% of a $2,000 load is $500. The calculator requires a gross on every load in percentage mode and blocks percentages above 100%.
65 or 0.65?
Type 0.65. The rate is in dollars per mile; the calculator warns you if a rate looks too high.
Is the driver's % the same as what the carrier keeps?
No. 25% of a $2,000 load is $500 for the driver; $1,500 is left for the carrier before its own costs.
Do deductions lower the carrier's revenue?
No. They lower what the driver receives, usually repaying something the carrier already covered.
Is this payroll or tax advice?
No. It doesn't handle tax withholding or state pay rules. Follow your written pay agreement.