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Box Truck & Cargo Van Load Calculator: Is This Load Worth It?

A load that pays $2.25 a loaded mile can pay you $1.73 once you drive 120 empty miles to the pickup, and a load that ties you up for a day and a half has to cover a day and a half of insurance and truck payments. Type in the load and your truck's costs to see the real profit, profit per day, and the lowest rate worth taking: a green, amber or red answer before you call the broker back.

How it works it out

  • Fuel and maintenance are charged on every mile, loaded and empty (deadhead).
  • Fixed costs (truck payment, insurance, ELD, phone, parking) are divided by the days you work in a month, then charged for each day the load takes, including waiting at the dock.
  • Dispatch and factoring fees come off the top of the rate.
  • Lowest rate to accept = your costs + the pay you want for those days, grossed up for fees. Below that, counter or walk away.

Typical numbers to start from

  • Cargo van: about 18 mpg; Sprinter / high-roof: about 17 mpg.
  • 26 ft box truck: about 8–10 mpg; hotshot: about 10–12 mpg; semi: about 6.5 mpg.
  • Keep empty miles under about 15% of the trip; over 20% is high unless the rate makes up for it.

Getting paid in 30–60 days? See what fast cash really costs with the freight factoring cost calculator.

Vehicle presets are typical starting points: type your own fuel economy and maintenance costs for a real answer. Fixed costs are shared across the days a load takes, because insurance and truck payments run whether you're moving or waiting. Planning estimates, not financial advice.

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Questions

How do I know if a load is worth it?

Divide the pay by loaded plus empty miles, take off fuel, maintenance and a share of your fixed costs for each day the load takes, and compare the profit per day with what you need to earn. Below your floor, counter or pass.

What is a good rate per mile for a box truck?

Box truck rates commonly run about $1.90–$3.20 a mile depending on distance, freight and lane, but the only rate that matters is the one above your own cost per mile including empty miles.

Should I count deadhead miles in my rate?

Yes. Empty miles burn fuel and wear the truck just like loaded ones, so always work out your rate over loaded plus deadhead miles.