Many carriers judge a load by its own rate per mile. But a truck rarely ends where it started, and the miles home are part of the cost.
Add up the whole run
- Outbound revenue and loaded miles.
- Backhaul revenue and loaded miles, if there is one.
- Empty miles: to the pickup, between loads and home.
Divide the total revenue by all the miles, loaded and empty. That is what the run really pays per mile.
Compare it with your cost
Subtract your cost per mile on every mile driven. A strong outbound load into an area with weak freight can lose money once the trip home is counted.
Plan the backhaul before you leave
Check freight out of the delivery area before accepting the outbound load, and build the backhaul into your rate decisions.
Our round-trip profit calculator puts it all together.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency or a licensed professional.
