Carrier Profitability
Calculator
Know your numbers before you haul. Calculate net profit, operating ratio, and cost per km for any load.
Revenue
Distance
Fuel
Typical long-haul: 32–40 L/100km
Costs
Include total driver cost — base pay + per-diem if applicable
Insurance + truck payment + maintenance allocated per trip
Understanding Operating Ratio
What is operating ratio?
Operating ratio (OR) = Total Costs / Revenue × 100. An OR of 85% means 85 cents of every dollar earned goes to costs, leaving 15 cents as profit. The trucking industry average is typically 90–95%.
Benchmarks
- Under 80% — Excellent: top-quartile carrier
- 80–90% — Good: sustainable and competitive
- 90–95% — Tight: common for single trucks
- Over 95% — Unprofitable on this load
This calculator is for planning purposes only. Actual profitability depends on many factors including maintenance timing, insurance premiums, financing terms, and tolls. Consult with your accountant for business tax and depreciation treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What costs should a carrier include when calculating profitability per load?
What is a typical target net margin for a Canadian trucking carrier?
How do I calculate the break-even rate per mile for a load?
How does the Canada-US exchange rate affect carrier profitability on cross-border lanes?
About this tool
What it calculates
Calculates net profit, operating ratio, and cost per km or mile for a single freight load, breaking down fuel, driver pay, and fixed costs in CAD or USD.
Who it's for
Owner-operators and carrier fleet managers evaluating whether a load is worth accepting at a given rate.
What you'll need
Gross revenue, load distance, fuel cost per litre, estimated fuel consumption, driver pay rate, and fixed cost per km.
How to use the result
Use as a pre-acceptance screening tool. If the operating ratio exceeds your target or the load is unprofitable, negotiate the rate or decline. Actual costs vary with driving conditions, border delay, and accessorials.
Key assumptions
Fixed cost inputs default to industry averages if left blank. Fuel consumption is estimated for a standard Class 8 truck — reefer, tanker, or flatbed operations have different consumption profiles.
When to confirm with a specialist
For complex loads involving US operations, fuel surcharge negotiations, or multi-stop costing, contact OTR Logistics Solutions' carrier relations team.
Need help with this shipment?
OTR Logistics Solutions specialists available 24/7 — no account required.
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