Cost per mile

[MA2LA]

I'm not the greatest at keeping track of how much money it takes to keep the truck running and happy but I know a few members here are pretty good at keeping track of every dime their trucks cost to run. the main thing I'm trying to figure out is weather or not the IRS's 55 cents a mile realy covers what it cost to run our beasts when you count in oil changes tires and fuel and all the other stuff we go though. I know it seems wierd to ask. I'm going to sit down with a potential employer and I'm trying to make sure i have the numbers in my head on so I know if the deal we come up with will be worth it for me. from the numbers i ran out of estimating truck payments, general maintenance, fuel cost using 3. 20 a gal and 14 mpg( i get better miliage normaly and right now fuels is under $3 so i have some room in there) and cost of tires , brakes and such. I come out to about 53 cents a mile using 40k a year for miles per year. but i'm wondering what numbers others are seeing.

 

[EricBu12]

Thats good to know ahead of time. . Good you are thinking of other costs. . There is a "break Even" point to running your truck. . As in big truck over the road, sometimes a shorter run will cost you more even though it pays the same per mile. . you have to look at the long haul (pun intended . . lol)

When you figure the runs and the cost of the truck to run say like per month along with insurance, Loan payment and other things, figure in a cost per month for the maintenance. Then whatever they pay you per mile, you have to do the miles that will get you over and above the "break-even" point with all the items figured in. Just going cost per mile is the wrong way to go.

 

[GaryOwen]

A fuel surcharge is something that should be negotiated. Don't want the price of fuel to jump up after you lock in to a set price per mile.



I got out of camper delivery last year and sold my 03 which I had used for the three previous years. I bought the truck used (79k miles) and sold it with 531k miles, so I kept the roads hot. My actual costs for the three years were $0. 12/mile (depreciation, maintenance, tires, commercial insurance, tags, upgrades) plus fuel. At current rates, the fuel would be $0. 20/mile (half towing & half unloaded), for a total cost of $0. 32/mile. I averaged over 16 mpg combined towing and unloaded, which seems to be higher than most get (I drove slow). I also did most of my own routine maintenance. Hope this helps you in your planning.

 

[HBarlow]

The IRS allowance per mile is a very good guide to follow and should cover your costs. I'd be surprised if companies were willing to pay more.

 

[RGardner]

And the cost per mile for 2010 drops to 50 cents.

 

[MA2LA]

We are working out the details of the job right now. They had planed on buying thier own truck but for now I'm much more comfortable in my truck. The miles the truck mainly sees is up and down the highway basically commuting and hauling about 1000 pounds of tools an what ever is needed. i'm sure we will come to a agreement that will work for both.