Profit Per Load Calculator
See your actual profit on any load after fuel, dispatch fees, factoring, tolls, and extras. Stop guessing — know your numbers before accepting.
Know Your Profit Before You Accept the Load
A $3,200 load sounds great until you subtract fuel, dispatch fees, factoring, tolls, and lumper charges. Many carriers accept loads based on the gross rate without running the math on their actual take-home — and that's how you end up hauling freight for pennies. This calculator forces the honest conversation: what do you actually keep after every dollar goes where it needs to go?
Enter your load details (rate, loaded miles, deadhead to pickup) and your per-load expenses. The calculator shows your net profit, profit margin percentage, effective rate per total mile, and a detailed expense breakdown. Color-coded results tell you instantly whether a load is strong (30%+ margin), decent (15-30%), or worth reconsidering (under 15%). For strategies on consistently finding higher-margin loads, see our rate negotiation tips.
Pair this with our Deadhead Calculator to evaluate pickup distance, and our Fuel Cost Calculator to dial in your largest variable expense. A professional dispatcher does this analysis on every load before presenting it to you — learn more about how dispatch works.
Load Details
Load Expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
A load is profitable when the rate exceeds your total expenses for that trip — fuel, dispatch fees, factoring, tolls, lumper charges, and any other costs. Most carriers target at least a 25-35% profit margin per load. This calculator shows your net profit and margin percentage so you can make informed decisions before accepting any load.
Target 30% or higher profit margin per load for a healthy operation. Between 15-30% is acceptable but leaves thin margins for unexpected costs. Below 15% is risky — one breakdown or detention could wipe out your profit. Keep in mind this calculator shows per-load variable expenses only. Your fixed costs (truck payment, insurance) eat into these margins further.
Yes, always. At 6% dispatch on a $3,200 load, that's $192 off the top. At 8% for box truck dispatch, it's $256. These fees are real costs that reduce your take-home. This calculator deducts dispatch and factoring fees automatically so you see your actual net profit, not the number on the rate confirmation.
Deadhead miles are revenue killers. If you deadhead 150 miles to pick up a 1,000-mile load, that's 15% of your total miles generating zero revenue but burning fuel. At 6.5 MPG and $3.75/gallon, those 150 empty miles cost you about $87 in fuel alone. Use our Deadhead Calculator to evaluate specific scenarios before accepting loads with long deadhead.
This calculator covers per-load variable expenses: fuel (based on total miles, your MPG, and fuel price), dispatch percentage fee, factoring percentage fee, tolls, and lumper/extra charges. It does NOT include fixed monthly costs like truck payment, insurance, permits, or maintenance reserves. Use our Cost Per Mile Calculator for a complete operating cost picture.
Every Load We Book Is Profit-Checked
Our dispatchers analyze fuel cost, deadhead, and fees on every load before presenting it. You only see loads that actually make you money.