TruckMarginREFERENCE DESK
Cost per mile by truck type
What it actually costs owner-operators to run each kind of truck — and how to find your own number in under a minute.
Cost per mile depends on equipment, utilization and service requirements. A refrigeration unit adds its own fuel and maintenance; flatbed work may add securement, tarping and handling costs. Smaller equipment can have lower payments while also running fewer paid miles. Those differences do not establish a universal ranking of profitability.
Cost inputs and separate market context
| Equipment | Cost per total mile | DAT September 2026 spot rate* | What to include in your costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry van | Calculate from your records | $3.01 / loaded mile | Truck and trailer, fuel, maintenance, insurance, overhead and owner pay. |
| Reefer | Calculate from your records | $3.62 / loaded mile | The same operating costs, plus refrigeration-unit fuel, servicing and required washouts. |
| Flatbed | Calculate from your records | $3.61 / loaded mile | Equipment and operating costs, securement supplies and time spent on loading and tarping. |
| Box truck | $1.46–$2.13 in the linked component model; not a measured average | No verified average here | The illustrative model uses 8–10 MPG, six tires and its stated fixed-cost and owner-pay assumptions. For local work, include stop and waiting time in the delivery calculator. |
| Hotshot (1-ton + gooseneck) | Calculate from your records | No verified average here | Pickup and trailer costs, tires, maintenance, insurance, unpaid miles and your work time. Calculate your costs → |
*USD national monthly broker-to-carrier spot averages, including fuel, for September 2026; DAT release published October 13. These are not local delivery rates, lane quotes or profit estimates. The box-truck figure is the sum of the linked component assumptions using EIA diesel of $6.276 per US gallon for October 19, 2026. Its range is illustrative, not a survey or a guarantee. Other equipment cost ranges have not been established here. Checked October 23, 2026.
Estimate your own cost per mile
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How we calculate it
All-in CPM = (monthly fixed costs ÷ miles) + (diesel price ÷ mpg) + maintenance/tires per mile + your pay per mile. The biggest swing factors are your truck payment, your real fuel economy, and how many miles you actually run — fixed costs spread thinner the more you drive, which is why low-mileage months quietly raise your CPM.
FAQ
Why is reefer cost per mile higher than dry van?
Refrigeration can add fuel for the cooling unit, separate maintenance and washouts. The extra cost per mile depends on run time, fuel use, service requirements and mileage; this page does not establish a measured universal premium over dry van.
Is box truck trucking cheaper per mile?
A smaller truck may have lower equipment, fuel and tire costs, but insurance and utilization can outweigh those savings. The linked box-truck model sums its illustrative component bounds to $1.46–$2.13 per mile, including owner pay; it is not a measured industry average.
Is hotshot cheaper per mile than a semi?
Not necessarily. A pickup and trailer may cost less to acquire, but insurance, maintenance, unpaid miles, payload and utilization can change the comparison. Calculate costs from your own records and compare actual work; this page does not establish a typical hotshot cost or rate range.
What's a safe target rate per mile?
Whatever beats your all-in CPM with margin to spare, measured per total mile (including deadhead). Use the load-profit calculator to check any specific load.