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operations calculator

Trip Cost Calculator

Calculate full trip cost from fuel, driver pay, tolls, and per-mile fixed share.

  • Updated July 10, 2026 · reviewed by the Bonafide Dispatch operations team
  • Free · no signup · nationwide (all 50 U.S. states)
  • 2026 U.S. freight benchmarks built in
Quick answer

A 1,200-mile trip at 6.5 MPG, $3.85/gal, $0.55/mi driver pay, and $0.45/mi fixed has a total cost of $1,909 — $1.59/mile.

Updated Reviewed by the Bonafide Dispatch operations teamFree · No signup · Works nationwide (all 50 U.S. states)
Quick facts
Category
Operations
Formula
Trip Cost = (Miles ÷ MPG × Diesel) + (Miles × Driver CPM) + Tolls + (Miles × Fixed CPM).
Inputs
6
Best for
Owner-operators & fleets
Inputs
Results
Total trip cost
$1,991
Cost per mile
$1.66
Fuel cost
$711
2026 U.S. reference benchmarks
Reviewed quarterly · DOE EIA · ATA · ATRI · FMCSA · DAT/Truckstop
All-in CPM (owner-op avg)
$1.62 – $1.89 /mi

Source: ATA + Bonafide, Q2 2026

Diesel (national avg)
$3.78 /gal

Source: DOE EIA weekly retail, Q2 2026

Toll cost share of trip
1% – 4% of revenue

Source: IBTTA + Bonafide, 2026

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What this calculator does

Calculate full trip cost from fuel, driver pay, tolls, and per-mile fixed share.

Definition
Trip Cost — Trip cost is all costs assignable to one load: fuel + driver pay + tolls + per-mile share of fixed.

Why it matters

Owner-operators and fleet managers across the United States — from Texas and California freight lanes to the Midwest and Southeast — rely on the trip cost numbers to price loads, negotiate with brokers, and protect margin. Getting this figure right is the difference between a profitable week and a break-even one, and it's the same math our dispatchers run on every load we book.

Methodology

This calculator uses the industry-standard formula shown below. Inputs and defaults are based on Bonafide's day-to-day dispatch operations across U.S. carriers, cross-checked against FMCSA guidance and DAT/Truckstop market data. Results render as plain text (not canvas or images) so they're readable by screen readers, search engines, and AI assistants.

How to use it

  1. Step 1
    Add tolls realistically

    Northeast lanes can run $150–$300 in tolls.

The formula

Trip Cost = (Miles ÷ MPG × Diesel) + (Miles × Driver CPM) + Tolls + (Miles × Fixed CPM).

Worked examples

  • Example 1
    Dallas → LA dry van
    miles
    1430
    mpg
    6.7
    diesel
    3.85
    driverCpm
    0.55
    fixedCpm
    0.45
    tolls
    30
    Result: $2,309 ($1.61/mi)

FAQ

What CPM should I use for fixed costs?

Most solo owner-operators run $0.40–$0.55/mi in fixed costs.

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