Load profitability calculator
Check a load using loaded and empty kilometres, true cost per kilometre, trip extras and target gross margin.
This result is a planning aid. Always verify legal limits, vehicle documents, route restrictions and carrier tariffs separately.
How to calculate truck load profitability
Load profitability must be calculated from the whole trip, not only loaded kilometres. Add loaded and empty kilometres, apply your true operating cost per kilometre, add trip-specific costs that are not already included, then compare the result with the customer revenue.
Worked example
Example: €1,600 revenue, 1,100 loaded km, 120 empty km, €1.10/km true cost and no extra trip cost.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| All trip kilometres | 1,100 + 120 | 1,220 km |
| Trip operating cost | 1,220 × €1.10 | €1,342 |
| Trip profit | €1,600 − €1,342 | €258 |
| Gross margin | €258 ÷ €1,600 × 100 | 16.1% |
| Minimum revenue for 15% margin | €1,342 ÷ (1 − 0.15) | €1,578.82 |
How empty kilometres change profit
Example assumes 1,000 loaded km, €1,600 revenue, €1.20/km operating cost and no extra trip costs.
| Empty km | All km | Trip cost | Profit | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 km | 1,000 km | €1,200 | €400 | 25.0% |
| 100 km | 1,100 km | €1,320 | €280 | 17.5% |
| 200 km | 1,200 km | €1,440 | €160 | 10.0% |
| 300 km | 1,300 km | €1,560 | €40 | 2.5% |
| 400 km | 1,400 km | €1,680 | −€80 | −5.0% |
Revenue required for different target margins
Example with a €1,400 trip cost. Target gross margin is calculated on revenue, not as a markup on cost.
| Target gross margin | Minimum revenue |
|---|---|
| 10% | €1,555.56 |
| 15% | €1,647.06 |
| 20% | €1,750.00 |
| 25% | €1,866.67 |
| 30% | €2,000.00 |
Common questions
Should empty kilometres count in load profitability?
Yes. Empty kilometres are part of the trip and should be multiplied by the same true operating cost per kilometre unless your cost model explicitly treats some components differently.
What is the difference between gross margin and markup?
Gross margin is profit divided by revenue. Markup is profit divided by cost. They are different percentages, so a 20% markup does not equal a 20% gross margin.
What should go into extra trip costs?
Only costs caused by that specific trip that are not already included in your cost-per-kilometre base, such as a ferry, tunnel, special permit or parking charge.
How do I calculate the minimum revenue for a target margin?
Divide total trip cost by one minus the target margin as a decimal. For a €1,400 trip cost and 20% target margin, €1,400 ÷ 0.80 = €1,750.
Why can a load look profitable per loaded km but still lose money?
Because loaded-kilometre revenue can hide empty distance. Profit should be checked against every kilometre caused by the load, plus trip-specific costs.
Method: the examples follow the calculator's all-trip-kilometre model. Gross margin is profit divided by revenue; target revenue is trip cost divided by one minus the target margin.
Last verified: 2026-08-31
How do you check whether a load price is genuinely profitable?
- Count every trip kilometre: loaded and empty. Empty kilometres earn no revenue but still create fuel, labour, depreciation and other costs.
- Trip cost = all kilometres × your true cost €/km + only those trip-specific costs that are not already included in the €/km base.
- Profit margin is calculated from sales revenue: (revenue − cost) ÷ revenue. Markup is a different metric: profit ÷ cost.
- Example: 900 loaded km plus 100 empty km at €1.30/km costs €1,300 before extra trip charges. A €1,600 price leaves €300 profit and an 18.75% gross margin.
- The target minimum price is calculated from the margin you choose, so the tool does not impose one universal “good margin” percentage on every carrier.