How do you calculate rate per mile on a load?

Divide the all-in rate by the miles — twice. Loaded RPM uses loaded miles only: a $1,850 load over 850 loaded miles is $2.18 per mile. Effective RPM adds the deadhead you drive to reach the shipper, so over 850 loaded plus 95 deadhead miles the same $1,850 works out to $1.96 per mile.

Do deadhead miles count in rate per mile?

Load boards quote loaded miles only, but your truck burns fuel and hours on deadhead too. Effective RPM — rate divided by loaded plus deadhead miles — is the number that matches your odometer, so it is the one to judge a load on.

What is a good rate per mile for owner-operators?

There is no single national number. A rate is good when its effective RPM clears your own all-in cost per mile with margin left over, which depends on your equipment, your fixed costs, and the lane. Work out your cost per mile first, then measure every offer against it.

Is this rate per mile calculator free?

Yes. The calculator is free and needs no account. Enter the rate, miles, and deadhead and it returns loaded and effective RPM, gross profit, a risk score, a Book, Negotiate, or Pass call, and a suggested counteroffer. Creating a free account lets you save loads.

Free calculator

Free rate per mile calculator

See the math on any load. Enter a few details and the same engine that powers LoadMerit Copilot returns the full picture — loaded and effective RPM, deadhead, gross profit, risk score, a Book / Negotiate / Pass call, and a suggested counteroffer. Free, no account needed. Sign up to save loads.

Run your numbers

Free

Uses generic default assumptions for fuel, MPG, and operating cost. Don't know your real all-in cost? Work it out free →

Diesel $5.31/gal · updated weekly (EIA)

Suggested recommendation

Book

Medium confidence · Risk 10/100 / Low

Offered rate $760 meets your $718 minimum at acceptable risk.

If you want to push

$800

Loaded RPM

$3.17

Effective RPM

$2.92

target $2.00

Total miles

260

8% deadhead

Gross profit

$292

min rate $718

Risk analysis

10 / 100

Deadhead risk4/20
Profitability risk0/25
Time-window risk6/15
Broker / note risk0/15
Accessorial uncertainty0/10
Multi-stop complexity0/10
Equipment-specific risk0/5

Tool-generated estimate based on the assumptions you entered — not verified market or broker intelligence.

Dry van lanes like Miami, FL → Atlanta, GA typically benchmark around $2.03–$2.60 loaded RPM. This offer is above the current benchmark range.

Exact lane match

Q3 · steady seasonProduce and back-to-school keep Q3 near average. This offer is above the season-adjusted range.

See lane benchmarks →Educational estimates, not live market quotes.

Source: LoadMerit lane library, compiled from public freight reporting (DAT · Truckstop · FreightWaves) · updated January 2026, auto-adjusted for market movement via BLS PPI (June 2026).

With a free account, this analysis would have been saved to your comparison board — so you could line it up against other offers side by side.

Want to keep this analysis?

This uses generic defaults for MPG, fuel, and operating cost — work out a real all-in number free with the cost-per-mile calculator. Create a free account to save loads, or analyze real offers with your own truck profile in LoadMerit Copilot, from $29/mo.

Prefer to build the judgment first? LoadMerit Academy is $99 one-time and includes 30 days of full Pro.

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Every recommendation shows its math. The engine is deterministic — AI only drafts the wording, never the numbers. See how it works →

Analysis results depend on the accuracy and completeness of information entered by the user, including miles, rates, fuel price, MPG, costs, dates, accessorials, and risk notes. Incorrect or incomplete inputs may produce inaccurate estimates.

Running a specific trailer? Open the dry van load calculator, reefer load calculator, or flatbed load calculator.

Don't know your cost per mile? Compute it first →

New to the numbers? Read how to calculate rate per mile, loaded vs. effective RPM, and when to book, pass, or negotiate.

Common questions

How do you calculate rate per mile on a load?: Divide the all-in rate by the miles — twice. Loaded RPM uses loaded miles only: a $1,850 load over 850 loaded miles is $2.18 per mile. Effective RPM adds the deadhead you drive to reach the shipper, so over 850 loaded plus 95 deadhead miles the same $1,850 works out to $1.96 per mile.
Do deadhead miles count in rate per mile?: Load boards quote loaded miles only, but your truck burns fuel and hours on deadhead too. Effective RPM — rate divided by loaded plus deadhead miles — is the number that matches your odometer, so it is the one to judge a load on.
What is a good rate per mile for owner-operators?: There is no single national number. A rate is good when its effective RPM clears your own all-in cost per mile with margin left over, which depends on your equipment, your fixed costs, and the lane. Work out your cost per mile first, then measure every offer against it.
Is this rate per mile calculator free?: Yes. The calculator is free and needs no account. Enter the rate, miles, and deadhead and it returns loaded and effective RPM, gross profit, a risk score, a Book, Negotiate, or Pass call, and a suggested counteroffer. Creating a free account lets you save loads.

LoadMerit provides educational content, simulations, calculators, and decision-support tools for freight load analysis. Content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, financial, tax, regulatory, insurance, brokerage, carrier, or dispatching advice.