Hotshot owner-operator education
How to Calculate Hotshot Fuel Cost Per Mile
Fuel is a major variable operating cost. The useful number for quoting freight is fuel expense over every mile driven, not only loaded miles.
The basic fuel cost formula
Fuel cost per mile = diesel price per gallon ÷ miles per gallon. At $4.00 per gallon and 10 MPG, fuel costs $0.40 per mile. These are illustrative inputs, not a current fuel-price claim.
Calculate the entire trip
For 600 loaded miles and 100 empty miles, 700 total miles at 10 MPG use approximately 70 gallons. At $4.00 per gallon, estimated fuel expense is $280. Dividing $280 by 700 miles yields $0.40 per total mile. Against 600 loaded miles, fuel alone represents about $0.47 per loaded mile.
Use realistic loaded and empty MPG
A heavily loaded truck may consume more fuel than an empty truck. Estimate each leg separately: loaded miles ÷ loaded MPG plus empty miles ÷ empty MPG. Multiply total gallons by the applicable fuel price. Include idling or PTO consumption when material.
Avoid these mistakes
Do not count only loaded miles, assume your best highway MPG applies everywhere, or use a stale national fuel average as a guaranteed pump price. Fuel is only one component of operating cost.
Apply it before booking
Combine fuel with maintenance, tires, insurance, truck payments, fees and owner compensation. Recalculate when route, weight, fuel price or empty-mile assumptions change.