Enter what the load pays, the loaded and deadhead miles, and your cost per mile. In seconds you'll see net profit, profit per mile, and a clear verdict on whether the load is worth your truck — so you stop hauling freight that loses money.
A load pays $2,000 for 800 loaded miles with 100 deadhead, at a $1.60 cost per mile:
The load board is full of numbers designed to look attractive — a big total dollar figure, a long distance, an "all-in" rate. None of that tells you whether the load actually makes you money. Profitability comes down to one comparison: what the load pays versus what it costs you to run every one of its miles, empty miles included. This calculator does that comparison instantly and gives you a clear take-it-or-skip-it verdict.
A load that pays $2.50 per loaded mile sounds great — until you remember you had to drive 150 empty miles to reach it. Those miles burn fuel and rack up wear with zero revenue, dragging your real return down. By folding deadhead into total cost, this tool shows the true profit, not the load-board fantasy.
Pair this with your Cost Per Mile (so the cost input is accurate), set your floor with the Rate Per Mile calculator, and confirm the fuel surcharge is included in the pay. That's how you build a freight-selection habit that compounds into real profit.
Compare loads by profit per mile, not total dollars. A $1,200 load over 400 miles can beat a $2,200 load over 1,100 miles once you count deadhead and time.