Trucking Costs Hit a New High: Make Every Loaded and Empty Mile Count
Rising trucking costs make trip planning more important. Learn how to evaluate total miles, reduce avoidable detours, and build a stronger route plan.
The rate on a load confirmation tells only part of the story. The miles needed to reach the pickup, complete the delivery, and get into position for the next load determine how much work that revenue actually covers.
That distinction matters in a year of rising expenses. ATRI's 2026 Operational Costs of Trucking update reports that the industry average cost of operating a truck reached $2.336 per mile in 2025, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. The report was released in July 2026; its annual cost figure describes 2025 operations, not a live September rate. Source: ATRI
Start with the miles the truck will actually travel
Consider a hypothetical load paying $1,500 for 500 loaded miles. That looks like $3 per loaded mile. Add 100 miles to reach the pickup, and gross revenue becomes $2.50 per total mile before expenses. Another repositioning leg would reduce that figure further.
This is an illustration, not a profit estimate. Your equipment, financing, fuel use, maintenance, and operating model determine your own costs. An industry average is useful context, but it cannot replace your numbers.
Before committing to a load, map the pickup approach, delivery entrance, and likely next move. Include known stops and check whether the quoted mileage reflects a route suitable for your truck.
Look for avoidable miles before departure
A missed entrance or unsuitable shortcut can turn a simple trip into an expensive recovery. Confirm the receiving gate with the facility, check appointment instructions, and review the last few miles while parked. For multiple stops, compare the sequence against appointment windows and loading constraints before changing it.
After the trip, record what caused unexpected mileage. A useful note is specific: the truck gate was on the opposite side of the property, or a planned road could not accommodate the vehicle. Those details can improve the next trip more than a general reminder to drive efficiently.
Put the full trip into Highway Miles
Highway Miles supports truck-profile routing and multi-stop planning. Use those tools to review the complete trip, including the miles surrounding the paid load.
The goal is a route you can execute with fewer surprises. Before your next pickup, give the empty miles the same attention as the loaded ones.