About this calculator

Allocate a consistent period’s fixed costs, fuel and other non-fuel variable costs across total and loaded miles. Empty and reposition miles remain in the total operating-cost basis.

Inputs

How to use this calculator

Comparable truck / accounting-period scenario

  1. Fixed costs for the same accounting period (USD)Enter the complete period amount you intend to allocate; no per-month default is assumed.
  2. Loaded miles in this period (mi)Denominator for the loaded-mile view.
  3. Empty / reposition miles in this period (mi)Included in total-mile cost; do not omit empty miles from the operating-cost basis.

Shared inputs

  1. Observed fleet fuel economy (miles per U.S. gallon)A period-average scenario; use per-leg trip fuel tool when conditions differ.
  2. Average fuel price (USD per U.S. gallon)Your period purchase cost basis.
  3. Other variable cost per total mile (USD/mi)Only non-fuel variable costs not included in fixed costs; avoid double counting.

Enter the shipment or scenario values, then select Calculate result.

Method

Formula and variables

Total miles = loaded + empty miles. Fuel cost = total miles ÷ average MPG × average fuel price. Other variable cost = total miles × entered non-fuel variable cost per mile. Total period cost = fixed + fuel + other variable costs. Report total cost ÷ all miles and, separately, total cost ÷ loaded miles.

Fixed costs for the same accounting period (USD)
Enter the complete period amount you intend to allocate; no per-month default is assumed.
Loaded miles in this period (mi)
Denominator for the loaded-mile view.
Empty / reposition miles in this period (mi)
Included in total-mile cost; do not omit empty miles from the operating-cost basis.
Observed fleet fuel economy (miles per U.S. gallon)
A period-average scenario; use per-leg trip fuel tool when conditions differ.
Average fuel price (USD per U.S. gallon)
Your period purchase cost basis.
Other variable cost per total mile (USD/mi)
Only non-fuel variable costs not included in fixed costs; avoid double counting.

Interpret the result

Cost per loaded mile assigns the period’s empty-mile and fixed costs to loaded miles. It is different from the marginal cost of one additional load.

Outputs: Period cost per total mile and loaded mile

Period allocation depends on consistent dates and accounting categories. Cost per loaded mile allocates empty-mile and fixed costs to loaded miles; it is not the marginal cost of one load. No depreciation schedule, financing, taxes, maintenance benchmark or revenue is inferred. When loaded miles are 0, cost per loaded mile is not defined.

Worked example

Check the arithmetic

This example uses the starting values shown above. The arithmetic below is calculated independently of the interactive result.

Work through the calculation

  1. Total miles = 8,000 + 2,000 = 10,000. Fuel = 10,000 ÷ 6 × $3.50 = $5,833.333333.
  2. Other variable cost = 10,000 × $0.35 = $3,500. Period total = $3,000 + $5,833.333333 + $3,500 = $12,333.333333.
  3. Per total mile = $1.233333, displayed $1.23; per loaded mile = $1.541667, displayed $1.54.

Compare the displayed result

Expected displayed result: $1.23/total mi

FAQs

Why is loaded-mile cost higher than total-mile cost?

The same period cost is divided by fewer miles. Empty miles are included in the cost numerator but excluded from the loaded-mile denominator.

Example inputs and options

Starting values are examples unless a field identifies a dated rule. Unit selectors convert only fields marked for conversion. Rates and model options keep the units and basis shown in their labels.

Fixed costs for the same accounting period (USD)
Example: 3000
Loaded miles in this period (mi)
Example: 8000
Empty / reposition miles in this period (mi)
Example: 2000
Observed fleet fuel economy (miles per U.S. gallon)
Example: 6
Average fuel price (USD per U.S. gallon)
Example: 3.5
Other variable cost per total mile (USD/mi)
Example: 0.35