True RPM = rate ÷ (loaded miles + deadhead). Empty miles cost fuel, driver time and wear, and nobody pays for them.
Every company has a cost per mile: fuel, driver, truck, insurance, repairs. ATRI's research put the industry average at about $2.34 per mile for 2025. Below your own cost per mile, every mile loses money. Get the exact number from the owner or accounting.
A well-paid load into an area with little freight can be a trap. Use: (rate of load 1 + rate of load 2) ÷ all miles of both loads, including deadhead.
| Option | Load 1 | Load 2 (next day) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: good area | $2,700 / 900 mi | $3,000 / 800 mi | $5,700 ÷ 1,700 = $3.35/mi |
| B: weak area | $3,000 / 900 mi | $1,200 / 600 mi | $4,200 ÷ 1,500 = $2.80/mi |
B pays $300 more today and loses over two days.
A flatbed in Tulsa takes Tulsa → Louisville, 536 miles, negotiated to $1,400 (~$2.61/mile, below target). Next day: Louisville → Baltimore, 630 miles, $3,400. Average: $4,800 ÷ 1,166 = ~$4.12/mile, above the $4 target.
Where does it deliver? How much deadhead? What is the true RPM? Do weight and dimensions fit? Are the driver's hours enough? Live or drop, tarps, stops? Who is the broker and how fast do they pay? Which truck takes it?
Empty miles driven without a load, usually to reach the next pickup. They are part of the true RPM.
Realistically about 500 miles, up to roughly 600, because of the 11-hour driving limit. A team runs 1,000+.
No. Check where it delivers. A high-paying load into a weak area can leave the truck sitting or leaving at a very low rate the next day.
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