What’s a good rate per mile? Judge it against your own cost
A good rate is one that clears your cost per mile with margin. The 2024 all-in average was $2.26/mi (ATRI) - but the only number that matters is your own breakeven.
Every operator wants a number for “a good rate per mile,” and the honest answer frustrates people: a good rate is any rate that clears your cost per mile with margin left over. The 2024 industry all-in average cost was $2.260 per mile (ATRI 2025 Update), so a rate near or below that loses money for an average truck. But the market average is not your business – your own cost per mile is the line.
Why there’s no single magic number
A rate that’s great for a light, fuel-efficient regional truck can be a loser for a heavy spec running long empty legs. Lane, season, fuel, deadhead, and your fixed costs all move the math. Anyone quoting one “good rate” for all of trucking is selling something.
How to judge any rate in 30 seconds
- Take the line-haul rate per mile and subtract your cost per mile – that’s your profit per loaded mile.
- Multiply by the loaded miles, then subtract the cost of any deadhead miles to reach the load.
- Confirm fuel is covered by a separate fuel surcharge, not buried in the line-haul.
If the result isn’t comfortably positive, it’s not a good rate – no matter what the load board says it’s “worth.”
Spot vs contract context
The spot rate is the live market price and swings with supply and demand; a contract rate is steadier. Use market data like the HaulPoint Spot Rate Index for context on where rates are heading, but never let “the market rate” override your own breakeven. The market doesn’t pay your truck payment – your margin does.
The bottom line
Stop hunting for a universal good rate. Know your cost per mile cold, add the margin you need to live and reinvest, and treat that as your floor. A “good rate” is simply one that clears it – and the discipline to refuse the ones that don’t is what keeps you in business.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good rate per mile right now?
The honest answer is: any rate that clears your cost per mile with margin. Since the 2024 average all-in cost was about $2.26/mi (ATRI), a rate near or below that is break-even or worse for an average operator - but your own number is what counts.
How do I know if a load pays?
Subtract your cost per mile from the line-haul rate, multiply by the loaded miles, then subtract the cost of any deadhead to reach it. If that's not comfortably positive, pass.
Should I take a cheap load to avoid sitting empty?
Sometimes - if it repositions you to a better market and still beats your variable cost. But repeatedly hauling below cost just loses money faster than sitting does.
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