Freight Cost Per Ton Calculator
Calculate bulk cargo and heavy freight shipping costs per US short ton (2,000 lbs), per metric tonne (1,000 kg), per ton-mile, and per hundredweight (CWT).
Bulk Freight Tonnage & Lane Distance
Cost / US Short Ton
$900.00
2,000 lbs per short ton
Cost / Metric Tonne
$992.08
1,000 kg (2,204.6 lbs)
Cost Per Ton-Mile
$1.80
Over 500 haul miles
Cost Per CWT
$45.00
40 CWT (100 lbs)
Freight Cost Per Ton Formula
Cost Per Ton = \frac{\text{Total Freight Cost}}{\text{Weight in Tons}}, \quad \text{Cost Per Ton-Mile} = \frac{\text{Total Freight Cost}}{\text{Weight (Tons)} \times \text{Distance (Miles)}}- US Short Ton: 2,000 pounds (standard North American bulk freight unit).
- Metric Tonne: 1,000 kilograms = 2,204.62 pounds (standard international ocean and rail unit).
- Ton-Mile: Moving 1 ton of freight over a distance of 1 mile (foundational transport efficiency metric).
- Hundredweight (CWT): Cost per 100 pounds = Cost per US short ton divided by 20.
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
- Weight in US Short Tons = 4,000 / 2,000 = 2.0 US tons
- Weight in Metric Tonnes = 4,000 / 2,204.62 = 1.814 metric tonnes
- Cost Per US Short Ton = \$1,800 / 2.0 = \$900.00 / ton
- Cost Per Metric Tonne = \$1,800 / 1.814 = \$992.08 / tonne
- Cost Per Ton-Mile = \$1,800 / (2.0 × 500) = \$1.80 / ton-mile
- Cost Per CWT = \$1,800 / 40 CWT = \$45.00 / CWT
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter the total freight charge in dollars.
- 2Select your weight unit (pounds, US short tons, or metric tonnes) and enter the cargo weight.
- 3Input the transit distance in miles to calculate cost per ton-mile.
- 4Review side-by-side unit cost equivalents across US tons, metric tonnes, and CWT.
Assumptions & Limitations
- 1 US short ton = 2,000 lbs. 1 metric tonne = 1,000 kg (approx 2,204.62 lbs).
- Never mixes short tons and metric tonnes without explicit mathematical conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ton-mile in transportation economics?
A ton-mile measures the movement of one ton of cargo over a distance of one mile. It is the premier operational efficiency metric used by railroads, barge lines, and trucking fleets to compare freight productivity across differing cargo densities.
What is the difference between a short ton and a metric tonne?
A US short ton equals 2,000 pounds (907.18 kg), while a metric tonne (used globally and in ocean shipping) equals 1,000 kg or 2,204.62 pounds—making a metric tonne approximately 10.2% heavier than a US short ton.
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