Free tool

Flatbed rate calculator, with tarp pay and load profit

Put in a load's linehaul, tarp pay and miles to see what it really pays per mile with deadhead counted. Switch to Load profit to take out fuel, tolls and the dispatch fee and see your net and your pay per hour.

Updated October 2026 / Estimates only, not financial or legal advice

Detention, stop-off, layover

Example defaults, replace with your numbers. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Result

Gross
$1,650
All-in rate per mile
$3.88
Loaded rate per mile
$4.23
Tarp pay share
9.1%

This load pays $3.88 a mile once deadhead is counted, and tarp pay is 9% of it. Want every load negotiated against your minimum, tarp pay included?

What the results mean

  • Gross is everything the broker pays on the rate con: linehaul, tarp pay and other accessorials.
  • All-in rate per mile divides gross by every mile you drive, loaded plus empty. It is the fairest way to compare loads.
  • Loaded rate per mile divides gross by loaded miles only. That is how most loads are posted, and why it looks better than it is.
  • Tarp pay share shows how much of the gross is tarp pay. If it is near zero on a tarped load, you are tarping for free.
  • Net profit (Load profit tab) is gross minus fuel, tolls, other load costs and the dispatch fee. Fixed costs like your truck payment and insurance are not in it; cover those with your minimum rate.
  • Profit per hour divides net by drive hours plus securement and tarping hours.

How it is calculated

  • Gross = linehaul + tarp pay + other accessorials
  • All-in rate per mile = gross / (loaded miles + empty miles)
  • Loaded rate per mile = gross / loaded miles
  • Tarp share = tarp pay / gross
  • Fuel = (loaded + empty miles) / mpg x diesel price
  • Dispatch fee = gross x fee percentage (our current rate for the truck count you pick, as listed on the pricing page)
  • Net profit = gross - fuel - tolls - other costs - dispatch fee
  • Profit per hour = net profit / (drive hours + securement hours)

Assumptions and sources

  • The default diesel price, $6.29 a gallon, is the US monthly average for September 2026 reported by DAT. Use what you actually pay.
  • Every other default is an EXAMPLE, not market data. Replace it with your own numbers.
  • Results are estimates. They do not include taxes, truck payments, insurance or maintenance; build those into your minimum rate, as explained in our flatbed rates guide.

How to use it before accepting a load

  1. Put in the posted rate, the tarp pay (ask if it is not posted) and the loaded miles.
  2. Add the deadhead from where you will be empty to the pickup.
  3. Check the all-in rate against your minimum. If it is under, counter or pass.
  4. Switch to Load profit and put in a realistic securement time. Compare profit per hour across your options.
  5. Before you call, decide your counter: the rate that gets you to your minimum all-in.

Looking for where to find loads to test? See our guide to flatbed load boards. And if you would rather someone else made those calls, our flatbed dispatch desk negotiates every load against your minimum and you approve each one, or see the dispatch fee calculator on the pricing page.

FAQ

Questions about this calculator

What is a good rate per mile for a flatbed load?

One that clears your own minimum rate, built from your costs. For context, DAT put the national flatbed spot average at $3.61 a mile with fuel in September 2026, but lanes vary widely. Use the Load profit tab with your own fuel, mpg and costs to see whether a rate works for your truck.

Should I compare loads on loaded or all-in rate per mile?

All-in. Brokers quote loaded miles, but you pay for every mile you drive, including deadhead to the pickup. A high loaded rate with a long deadhead can pay less than a lower rate next door.

Why does the calculator ask for securement hours?

Because flatbed time is not only driving. Strapping, chaining and tarping at both ends can take hours, and profit per hour is the honest way to compare a quick untarped load with a slower tarped one.

Does my data get saved or sent anywhere?

No. The calculator runs in your browser. If you use Copy link, your numbers go into the link you copy, and nowhere else.

Sources

  1. DAT, "Truckload rates rise in September as diesel tops $6 a gallon" (Oct 13, 2026) (checked Oct 21, 2026)

Let us run the numbers on every load

Our dispatchers book flatbed, step deck and conestoga loads against your minimum rate. 6% of gross, 5% for 2+ trucks.

Apply for dispatch