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Log your first load to see your CPM.
A quick guide to the numbers that keep your trucking business profitable.
Cash per mile is the amount of money you earn for every mile driven on a trip. It is one of the most important metrics for owner-operators and company drivers because it tells you at a glance whether a load is worth taking. A higher CPM means you are making more money for every mile your wheels turn.
The formula is simple: divide the total load pay by the total miles driven.
Cash Per Mile = Load Pay ÷ Miles
Example: A load pays $875 and the trip is 315 miles. $875 ÷ 315 = $2.78 per mile.
Profit is what is left after you subtract your direct costs — mainly fuel — from the load pay. The formula is:
Profit = Load Pay − Fuel Cost
Example: A load pays $875 and fuel costs $92. $875 − $92 = $783 profit.
For a full picture, owner-operators should also factor in maintenance, insurance, permits, and tolls. Company drivers can focus on CPM and profit after fuel since most other costs are covered by the carrier.
A "good" CPM depends on your operating costs and the lanes you run. Many owner-operators aim for at least $2.00–$2.50 per mile to cover fuel, maintenance, insurance, and still take home a profit. Company drivers often see $0.50–$0.80 per mile as a strong rate when fuel and major costs are covered by the employer.
Not all miles pay the same. Deadhead miles, cheap freight, and long empty runs drag your average down. By logging every load and seeing your CPM in real time, you learn which brokers, lanes, and routes actually make you money — and which ones to avoid.
Below are three realistic trips logged by drivers. Each shows the raw numbers and the resulting CPM and profit.
Dallas, TX → Houston, TX
240.0
$1,200.00
$180.00
$1,020.00
$5.00
Chicago, IL → Indianapolis, IN
185.0
$650.00
$95.00
$555.00
$3.51
Los Angeles, CA → Phoenix, AZ
373.0
$1,450.00
$320.00
$1,130.00
$3.89
Let's break down the Los Angeles to Phoenix haul step by step so you can see exactly how the numbers work.
Step 1 — Gather the numbers
Step 2 — Calculate Cash Per Mile
$1,450 ÷ 373 = $3.89 per mile
Step 3 — Calculate Profit
$1,450 − $320 = $1,130 profit
Step 4 — Evaluate the load
At $3.89/mile, this trip comfortably beats the typical owner-operator target of $2.00–$2.50/mile. The $1,130 profit leaves room for maintenance, insurance, and permits. If the same load paid only $900, the CPM would drop to $2.41/mile and profit to $580 — still acceptable, but with a much thinner margin.
Cash Per Mile automatically calculates your CPM and estimated profit as you enter each trip. Over time, your trip history shows your real average CPM — so you can negotiate better rates, choose smarter loads, and keep your business in the black.