Trucking rate per mile: gross RPM, net RPM and cost per mile
By Haris Ajmal, founder of TruckingDesk · Updated November 8, 2026
Short answer: rate per mile (RPM) is the load pay divided by miles. Gross RPM uses the full rate. Net RPM (profit per mile) uses what is left after fuel, fees and other costs. Always say which miles you used: loaded miles only, or total miles including deadhead.
The four rate-per-mile numbers
Gross RPM (total) = load pay ÷ (loaded + deadhead miles)
Net RPM (loaded) = profit ÷ loaded miles
Net RPM (total) = profit ÷ (loaded + deadhead miles)
Profit = load pay − fuel − fees − other costs
Brokers usually quote rate per loaded mile. Your truck burns fuel on every mile, so the total-mile numbers show what the trip really pays when you drive empty to the pickup.
Cost per mile and break-even rate
Cost per mile = total costs ÷ total miles
Break-even rate = fixed costs ÷ (1 − percentage fees)
Minimum rate per loaded mile = break-even rate ÷ loaded miles
Percentage fees (dispatch, factoring, some MC lease fees) grow with the rate, which is why the break-even rate divides by (1 − fee %) instead of just adding the fee.
Worked example
An owner-operator is offered $1,600 for 500 loaded miles. The pickup is 60 miles away (deadhead). The truck gets 6.5 MPG, diesel is $3.80, the dispatcher charges 8%, and tolls are $25.
- Total miles: 500 + 60 = 560
- Fuel: 560 ÷ 6.5 × $3.80 = $327.38
- Dispatch fee: $1,600 × 8% = $128.00
- Total costs: $327.38 + $128.00 + $25.00 = $480.38
- Profit: $1,600 − $480.38 = $1,119.62 (70.0% margin)
| Miles basis | Gross RPM | Net RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded miles (500) | $3.20 | $2.24 |
| Total miles (560) | $2.86 | $2.00 |
Cost per total mile: $480.38 ÷ 560 = $0.86. Break-even rate: ($327.38 + $25) ÷ (1 − 0.08) = $383.03, or about $0.77 per loaded mile.
This example counts only fuel, dispatch and tolls. A real break-even must also include your truck payment, insurance, maintenance, permits and driver pay. The Load Profit Calculator spreads monthly costs over trip days so they are included.
Try it with your own numbers
- Before Booking Calculator: route miles, fuel, tolls and all four RPM figures for one offer.
- Load Profit Calculator: fees, monthly costs, break-even and weekly reports.
- Driver Pay Calculator: what a cents-per-mile or percentage driver earns on the same load.
Questions
How do I calculate rate per mile for a load?
Divide the load pay by the miles. $1,600 ÷ 500 loaded miles = $3.20 per loaded mile. Divide by total miles (including deadhead) to see what the whole trip pays per mile driven.
What is the difference between gross and net rate per mile?
Gross RPM uses the full load pay. Net RPM uses profit after fuel, fees and the other costs you count, so it shows what you actually keep per mile.
Should deadhead miles be included?
Look at both. Loaded-mile RPM matches how brokers quote rates; total-mile RPM includes the empty miles your truck still pays for, which is better for comparing loads.
What is a good rate per mile?
It depends on your own cost per mile, equipment and lane, so there is no single number. A load is worth considering when its rate is above your break-even rate with room for profit. TruckingDesk does not publish market rate averages.
How do I find my cost per mile?
Add up your costs for a period (fuel, truck payment, insurance, maintenance, fees, driver pay and other costs) and divide by all miles driven in that period, loaded and empty.