Calculator
Load Profitability Calculator
See if a specific load is profitable after deadhead, fuel, and dispatch.
Quick answer
A load is profitable when (total pay − fuel − dispatch fee − deadhead cost) ÷ total miles is greater than your cost per mile.
All-in RPM
$2.25/mi
Net profit on load
$230
Verdict
Take it
vs your CPM + dispatch
Formula
Net Profit = Load Pay − (Total Miles × CPM) − (Load Pay × Dispatch %)
Benchmark: Bonafide internal data — top 20% of booked loads net $300+ after dispatch and deadhead.
How it works
- 1Add loaded + deadhead miles
Both incur fixed costs — count total miles, not just paid.
- 2Apply your true CPM
From your cost-per-mile calculator. Don't shortcut with fuel-only CPM.
- 3Subtract dispatch fee from gross
Then compare net to total-mile cost. Positive = take it.
Example: $1,800 / 720 loaded + 80 deadhead
| All-in RPM | $2.25/mi |
| Cost (800 mi × $1.85) | $1,480 |
| Dispatch (5% of $1,800) | $90 |
| Net profit | $230 |
Takeaway: Profitable, but slim — push for $1,950 if the broker has flexibility.
Key takeaways
- Profit verdict requires deadhead + dispatch — gross/loaded miles lies.
- A $0.20/mi swing on a 700-mi load = $140 — that's the difference between profit and break-even.
- Cluster lanes to keep deadhead under 10% of total miles.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a load is worth taking?+
Add deadhead to loaded miles, multiply by your true CPM, then subtract that and the dispatch fee from total pay. A positive number is profit.
Last reviewed June 15, 2026 by the Bonafide Trucking Solutions dispatch team.