Formula
How this calculator works
Enter your cents-per-mile rate and the miles you ran. If empty miles are paid at a different rate — or not paid at all, which is common — set that separately. Accessorial pay like detention, stop pay or a tarp bonus goes in the additional pay field.
The figure worth watching is the last one: effective pay per total mile. That is your total earnings divided by every mile you actually drove, and it is the only number that compares fairly between two jobs with different pay structures.
mileage pay = (loaded × rate) + (deadhead × deadhead rate) total pay = mileage pay + additional pay effective cpm = total pay ÷ total miles driven
Worked example
| Component | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded pay | 900 mi × $0.62 | $558.00 |
| Deadhead pay | 120 mi × $0.62 | $74.40 |
| Mileage pay | 558.00 + 74.40 | $632.40 |
| Stop pay | — | $75.00 |
| Total earnings | 632.40 + 75.00 | $707.40 |
| Effective per mile | 707.40 ÷ 1,020 mi | $0.69 |
The accessorial pushed the effective rate above the base rate here. Without that $75 stop pay it would have been $0.62 — exactly the base rate, because every mile was paid at it.
Why unpaid empty miles change everything
Set the deadhead rate to zero and rerun that example. Mileage pay drops to $558, total earnings to $633, and the effective rate falls to $0.62 per loaded mile but only $0.62 × 900 ÷ 1,020 = $0.55 per mile actually driven.
That is a nine-cent swing on identical work, caused entirely by whether the empty miles are paid. It is the single biggest variable between two jobs quoting the same cents-per-mile.
Comparing job offers honestly
Get the deadhead policy in writing
Full rate, reduced rate, or unpaid. This changes your annual income more than a two-cent difference in the base rate.
Ask about average weekly miles
A high rate on 1,800 miles a week pays less than a modest rate on 2,600. Rate and volume have to be considered together.
Count the accessorials
Detention, stop pay, layover and tarp pay add up. So does their absence.
Ask what is deducted
These are gross figures. Escrow, insurance and equipment deductions land after this calculation, and vary widely.
These are gross earnings before tax and deductions. For owner-operators, operating costs — fuel, maintenance, insurance, payments — come out of this figure too, and they are the difference between revenue and income.
Frequently asked questions
What is effective pay per mile?
Total earnings divided by every mile you actually drove, including unpaid empty miles. It is the only figure that compares fairly between two jobs with different pay structures.
Are empty miles usually paid?
It varies by carrier. Some pay the full rate, some a reduced rate, and some pay nothing at all. Set the deadhead rate to match your actual agreement — this single variable affects annual income more than a two-cent difference in the base rate.
Does this include taxes?
No. These are gross figures before tax and deductions. For owner-operators, operating costs come out of this as well.
What counts as additional pay?
Stop pay, detention, layover, tarp pay, fuel bonuses, safety bonuses — anything paid on top of the mileage rate for that period.
How do I compare two job offers?
Compare effective pay per total mile, not the advertised cents-per-mile. Then check average weekly miles, the deadhead policy, the accessorial schedule and what gets deducted. A high rate on low miles pays less than a modest rate on high miles.
Why is my effective rate lower than my base rate?
Because unpaid or reduced-rate empty miles pull the average down. If every mile were paid at the base rate, the two figures would match exactly.
Should I count the drive home?
If you want an honest picture of your unpaid running, yes. Keep the choice consistent between periods so the figures stay comparable.
Does mileage pay differ by route type?
Often. Practical miles, household goods miles and hub miles are calculated differently and can vary by several percent on the same trip. Ask which basis your carrier uses.
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