Is this load worth it? A 5-step check before you book

Updated: November 14, 2026

Rate per loaded mile is what brokers talk about. What pays your bills is money left per day. Here is a quick check you can run on any load board offer.

1. Know your all-in cost per mile

Add fuel, maintenance, tires and your fixed costs spread over the miles you drive. If you do not know this number yet, start with our guides for hotshot or box truck cost per mile.

2. Count empty miles on both ends

Empty miles to the pickup are easy to see. Empty miles after delivery are the hidden cost. See how to calculate deadhead.

3. Count the days it ties you up

Loading delays, appointment times and a long drive home all take days. Your truck payment and insurance do not stop on those days, so a two-day load has to earn more than a one-day load.

4. Subtract fees

Dispatch and factoring fees are a percentage of the rate. Tolls and lumper fees come off the top too.

5. Divide by days

Profit per day = (rate - fuel - maintenance - fixed cost per day x days - tolls - fees) / days

Compare that with the profit per day you want. If two or three loads are on the table, compare them side by side. The highest rate is often not the winner once empty miles after delivery and extra days are counted.

Use the number when you negotiate

When a load comes up short, work out the rate it would need to match your best option. Asking the broker for a specific number backed by your costs works better than asking for "a bit more". The free calculator shows this number for every load you enter.

Estimates for planning only, not tax or legal advice.