How trip fuel cost is calculated
- Fuel needed = total trip miles ÷ miles per gallon
- Fuel cost = gallons × diesel price per gallon
- Trip profit = load pay − fuel cost − dispatch fee − other trip costs
Example: an 860-mile trip at 6.5 MPG needs about 132 gallons. At $3.90 a gallon that’s roughly $516 in fuel. On a $2,400 load with a 7% dispatch fee ($168), you’d have about $1,716 left before fixed costs.
This is your trip-level number. To know your true profit, you also need to cover fixed costs such as your truck payment, insurance, permits and maintenance. Use the rate per mile calculator to compare loads on an all-in basis.