What is a Good Rate Per Mile for Trucking? (2024 Benchmarks)
"Is this a good rate?" is the most common question in trucking. The answer depends on your equipment, your lanes, your costs, and the current market. This guide gives you concrete numbers — what the market pays, what top carriers earn, and how to calculate whether any load is worth running.
2024 rate per mile benchmarks
DAT spot market average
Above-market via broker relationships
High-demand lanes, strong negotiation
DAT spot market average
Food/pharma broker relationships
Produce lanes, pharma lanes
How to calculate your break-even rate
Before you accept any load, you need to know your cost per mile — the minimum rate at which you break even. Here's a typical cost breakdown for an owner-operator running 10,000 miles/month:
Add your desired income ($0.50–0.70/mile) to get your target rate. A carrier running $1.30/mile in costs who wants to net $0.60/mile needs $1.90+/mile minimum.
What affects your rate per mile
Lane supply/demand
Rates in Chicago→Atlanta differ from empty backhaul lanes. High-demand corridors always pay more. Southeast outbound and Texas outbound typically command higher rates.
Time of year
Produce season (May–September) drives up reefer rates significantly. Q4 holiday freight boosts dry van. January–February are typically the softest months for spot rates.
Equipment type
Reefer pays $0.20–0.40/mile more than dry van on average. Flatbed pays premium for oversize loads. Dry van is highest volume with the most competition.
Broker relationships
Direct relationships with top brokers mean negotiating room above the posted rate. Brokers who know you reliably deliver pay more to keep you. This is why dispatchers with established relationships can get rates DAT won't show.
Lead time
Loads posted 3–5 days out pay less than same-day or next-day loads when carriers are desperate to fill. Booking ahead in tight lanes often yields higher rates.
How to negotiate a better rate
Most posted rates have room to negotiate — brokers expect it. Here's what works:
- Know the DAT rate for that lane before you call — brokers know it too
- Counter at 10–15% above posted rate, not 50%. Unreasonable counters end conversations
- Emphasize your reliability: 'I have a clean record, I deliver on time, I send POD same day'
- Ask for fuel surcharge adjustment if diesel is spiking
- Volume matters — if you run a lane regularly, brokers will pay more for consistency
- Time your call — brokers are under pressure to fill loads by end of day
FAQ
What is a good rate per mile for dry van in 2024?
The spot market average is ~$2.10/mile. A good rate is $2.30+. Strong performers achieve $2.40–2.60 through broker relationships and lane strategy. Below $1.80 loaded is below break-even for most operators.
What is a good rate per mile for reefer?
Reefer averages $2.30–2.40 spot. Strong performers average $2.50+ with food-grade and pharma brokers. Reefer consistently pays $0.20–0.30/mile more than dry van.
Is $2.00/mile good for trucking?
At $2.00/mile, most owner-operators are barely covering costs with little net income. After fuel ($0.63+/mile), insurance, truck payment, and maintenance, your net at $2.00/mile is thin. Target $2.30+ for meaningful income.
We average $2.30+ dry van, $2.50+ reefer
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