Route Profitability Comparison

Subtract all expenses (fuel, dispatch fee, tolls, and operating costs) from the load rate, then divide by total miles including deadhead. For example, a $3,200 load with $800 in total expenses over 825 total miles yields $2.91 profit per mile. Always include deadhead miles in the total -- they cost fuel and wear but generate no revenue.

Most owner-operators target $1.50 to $2.50 net profit per mile after all expenses. Anything above $2.00/mile is considered good. However, profit per day can be more meaningful since a shorter high-paying route may earn more daily than a longer route with higher per-mile profit. This tool shows both metrics.

Deadhead miles are unpaid miles you drive to reach your next pickup. They cost fuel and wear without generating revenue. A 15% deadhead rate is typical, but anything above 20% significantly eats into profit. A route paying $0.10 less per mile but with zero deadhead may actually be more profitable than a higher-paying route with 100+ deadhead miles.

Profit per day is usually the better metric because time is your most limited resource. A 2-day route earning $1,200 net ($600/day) beats a 1.5-day route earning $800 net ($533/day) even though the shorter route has a higher rate per mile. Use this tool to see both metrics side-by-side and make the right call.