Box truck cost per mile: a simple way to calculate it

Updated: November 14, 2026

Box truck work is often short runs with several stops, so cost per mile alone can mislead you. Work out cost per mile and cost per day, then check each load against both.

Fixed costs

Truck payment or lease, insurance, ELD or GPS, phone, registration, parking, liftgate repairs reserve. Add one month, divide by the miles you drive in that month.

Fuel

Fuel per mile = diesel or gas price / MPG. Box trucks lose less MPG when loaded than a pickup pulling a trailer, but stop-and-go city work can drop it a lot. Use what your fuel receipts actually show.

Maintenance and tires

Brakes and tires wear faster on multi-stop routes. Track a year of repairs and divide by miles.

Cost per day

Fixed cost per day = fixed costs per month / days you work per month. A load that pays well per mile but keeps you waiting for hours at a dock can still lose money per day.

Do I need IFTA for a box truck?

Usually not if the truck has two axles, is rated 26,000 lb or less, and does not pull a trailer. It does if it is over 26,000 lb, has three or more axles, or pulls a trailer and the combination is over 26,000 lb, and you run in two or more states. Details: who needs IFTA.

Enter your numbers in the free calculator (pick "Box truck") to compare loads by money left per day.

Estimates for planning only, not tax or legal advice.