How to work out your truck's fuel cost
- Enter loaded miles, plus deadhead if you drive empty to the pickup.
- Enter your real MPG and the diesel price you pay.
- Optional: add a price rise to see what it would cost, the load rate to see how much of it goes to fuel, or your contract's base price to calculate a fuel surcharge.
- Copy the result or save it as a PDF.
How it's calculated
Gallons = total miles ÷ MPG
Fuel cost = gallons × diesel price
Fuel cost per mile = diesel price ÷ MPG
Extra cost of a price rise = gallons × rise per gallon
Fuel share of the rate = fuel cost ÷ load rate × 100
Fuel surcharge per mile = (diesel − base price) ÷ MPG, never below $0
Fuel surcharge for the trip = surcharge per mile × loaded miles
Example
600 loaded miles and 50 deadhead miles at 6.5 MPG is 100 gallons. At $3.90 a gallon, fuel costs $390, or $0.60 per mile. If diesel rises by $0.50, the same trip costs $50 more ($440), about 7.7¢ more per mile. On an $1,800 load, fuel takes 21.7% of the rate and leaves $1,410 before other costs. With a contract base price of $1.25, the surcharge is ($3.90 − $1.25) ÷ 6.5 ≈ $0.41 per loaded mile, or $244.62 for 600 loaded miles. The $1.25 base is only an example; use your contract's numbers.
To see profit after fuel, tolls and other costs, use the Before Booking Calculator. For fees and monthly truck costs, use the Load Profit Calculator. For quarterly fuel tax by state, use the IFTA Calculator. More on per-mile numbers: rate per mile guide.
Common ways to use less fuel
- Cut idle time where you can; idling burns fuel without moving the load.
- Keep a steady, moderate highway speed and avoid hard acceleration.
- Check tire pressure regularly; under-inflated tires waste fuel.
- Plan fuel stops on your route ahead of time instead of buying wherever the tank runs low.
- Count deadhead before you accept a load. Empty miles burn the same diesel.
How much each step saves depends on your truck, load and route, so this page does not promise a number.
Questions
How do I calculate diesel cost per mile for my truck?
Divide the diesel price by your MPG. At $3.90 a gallon and 6.5 MPG, fuel costs $0.60 per mile. Multiply by the trip miles, including deadhead, for the trip cost.
How much does a 50-cent diesel increase cost on a trip?
Divide the trip miles by your MPG to get gallons, then multiply by $0.50. A 650-mile trip at 6.5 MPG uses 100 gallons, so it costs $50 more. Per mile, that is $0.50 ÷ 6.5 ≈ 7.7¢.
What is a fuel surcharge and how is it calculated?
A fuel surcharge is an extra amount some shippers and brokers pay when diesel is above a base (peg) price in the contract. A common method is (current diesel − base price) ÷ MPG per loaded mile. Contracts differ in base price, MPG and the price index they use, so always follow your own agreement.
Where can I check current diesel prices?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration publishes weekly national and regional diesel averages at eia.gov. Prices at your fuel stop can be higher or lower, so use what you actually pay.
Should deadhead miles count in fuel cost?
Yes. Your truck burns diesel on empty miles too, so leaving deadhead out makes a load look cheaper to run than it is.
Is my information saved or sent anywhere?
No. The math runs in your browser. Only if you tick the remember box are your MPG and diesel price saved on this device.