Freight Cost Per Mile Calculator
Calculate effective freight rates per loaded mile and total operating mile, comparing contract and spot rates against national dry van and reefer averages.
Invoice & Mileage Details
Rate / Loaded Mile
$2.75
800 revenue miles
Rate / Total Mile
$2.59
850 loaded + deadhead
Benchmark Variance
+$0.35 / mi
+14.6% vs market
Market Spot Average
$2.40
National van average
Freight Cost Per Mile Formula
Rate Per Loaded Mile = \frac{\text{Total Freight Invoice}}{\text{Loaded Miles}}- Rate Per Loaded Mile: Total invoice amount divided by loaded billable revenue miles.
- Rate Per Total Mile: Total invoice divided by combined loaded and empty deadhead repositioning miles.
- Fuel Cost Per Mile: Total diesel fuel expenditure divided by total operating miles.
- Benchmark Variance: Difference between your effective linehaul rate and prevailing national spot averages.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
- Rate Per Loaded Mile = \$2,200 / 800 = \$2.75 / loaded mile
- Total Operating Miles = 800 + 50 = 850 miles
- Rate Per Total Mile = \$2,200 / 850 = \$2.59 / total mile
- Fuel Cost Per Mile = \$650 / 850 = \$0.76 / mile
- Variance vs Benchmark = \$2.75 - \$2.40 = +\$0.35 / mile (+14.6% premium)
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter the full freight invoice or carrier quote.
- 2Input the loaded transit mileage.
- 3Optionally add deadhead miles and fuel expenses.
- 4Compare your rate against national spot rate benchmarks.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Loaded miles represent odometer distance between origin loading facility and final destination dock.
- National benchmarks represent prevailing DAT / FreightWaves dry van 30-day rolling averages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good freight rate per mile in the United States?
National average dry van contract rates typically fluctuate between \$2.10 and \$2.75 per mile, while reefer rates average \$2.40 to \$3.15 per mile depending on fuel prices, season, and lane tightness.
Why does deadhead mileage matter in cost-per-mile calculations?
Deadhead miles burn fuel, wear tires, and consume driver service hours without generating direct customer revenue. A haul paying \$3.00/mile for 500 loaded miles with 200 deadhead miles yields an effective rate of only \$2.14 per total operating mile.
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