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. It uses generic cost assumptions and saves nothing. A free account adds your own cost and vehicle profiles, 10 analyses a day, and 3 saved at a time; Copilot removes the save limit and adds broker notes, the comparison board, the settled-rate ledger, and AI scripts.

Free calculator

Free rate per mile calculator

Enter the offer, loaded miles, and deadhead. Get the full Book, Negotiate, or Pass analysis with the math shown. Free, no account or card needed.

Grade a load

Free

Generic truck costs until you set yours · Diesel $5.97/gal — EIA weekly, auto-filled

Don't know your real all-in cost? Work it out free →

Suggested recommendation

Book

$3 over your walk-away

Offered rate $760 meets your $757 minimum at acceptable risk.

If you want to push

$800

Effective RPM

$2.92

target $2.00

Profit est.

$253

after all-in cost

Min rate

$757

your floor

How we got this — the full breakdown

Loaded RPM: $3.17
Total miles: 260 mi
Deadhead: 8%
Fuel estimate: $259
All-in operating cost: $507
Confidence: Medium

Risk analysis

13 / 100

Deadhead risk4/20
Profitability risk0/25
Time-window risk6/15
Broker / note risk0/15
Accessorial uncertainty0/10
Multi-stop complexity0/10
Equipment-specific risk3/5

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

Reefer lanes like Seattle, WA → Los Angeles, CA typically benchmark around $2.29–$2.98 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 (August 2026).

Make the next one yours

This ran on generic truck costs, not yours.

Add your truck and your fixed costs and every check runs on your numbers instead of the tool's defaults. That part is free, and it keeps 3 loads saved at a time.

Copilot drops the save limit and records what each load actually settled at — which is what builds your own floor: the rate this truck has to clear before a load is worth taking.

Use my own numbers — free

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Every recommendation shows its math. The engine is deterministic, and no figure is ever calculated by AI. 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. It uses generic cost assumptions and saves nothing. A free account adds your own cost and vehicle profiles, 10 analyses a day, and 3 saved at a time; Copilot removes the save limit and adds broker notes, the comparison board, the settled-rate ledger, and AI scripts.

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.