Tool
Trucking fuel cost calculator
Enter trip miles, current diesel price per gallon, and your truck's miles per gallon to estimate total fuel cost, gallons needed, and fuel cost per mile.
Results
Diesel price sensitivity
| Diesel price | Total fuel cost | Fuel cost/mi |
|---|
How fuel cost affects load decisions
Fuel is typically the largest variable cost for an owner-operator, often representing 30–40% of gross revenue depending on diesel prices and the rate environment. Understanding fuel cost per mile — before accepting a load — is a key part of evaluating whether the load makes money.
Deadhead miles matter
This calculator uses total trip miles, which should include deadhead miles to pickup. If you need to drive 80 miles empty to reach the pickup, those 80 miles burn fuel at the same rate as loaded miles. Including deadhead in your fuel cost estimate gives a more accurate picture of total fuel exposure for the move.
Fuel cost and your CPM
Fuel cost per mile is one component of your total cost per mile. The other components — truck payment, insurance, maintenance, permits, and overhead — are fixed or semi-fixed. If you have not calculated your full CPM, use the cost per mile calculator for a complete picture. For an individual load evaluation, the load profitability calculator uses your total CPM to show whether a specific load clears your costs.
MPG varies by load and conditions
Class 8 trucks typically average 5.5 to 7.5 mpg depending on the truck spec, load weight, terrain, speed, and conditions. A loaded truck climbing grades in mountainous terrain can see 4–5 mpg; an empty truck on flat highway with a tailwind may approach 8 mpg. Use your actual fuel records to calculate a reliable average rather than the manufacturer's rating, which reflects ideal conditions.