Per Mile Cost of Operation

[raynchk]

I'm trying to figure a per mile cost of operation. Not being the best with math and overwhelmed by so many variables, I turned to the OOIDA excel spread sheet on their website: http://www.ooida.com/trucking_tools/CPM/cost_per_mile.htm

Using this sheet I'm coming up with a per mile cost of about.52 to .60 cents per mile to operate if I factor in purchasing a new van in 5 years. Of course this is based on 100,000 miles and the spread sheet doesn't factor in loaded and dh miles.

The difficulty with with these numbers is that operating costs go down with the more miles run. So it would make sense that a run of 250 miles is more expensive than a run of a 1,000 miles.

Is there a per mile figure or rule of thumb guesstimate that is more accurate?

thanks

 

[Broompilot]

Do not make it to difficult.

I know nothing about Van #s so no help there. It just seems about .10 high as this is getting into the big truck #s at least used but not worn out. Thats what I am guiding it buy.

Congrats on caring enough and being smart enough to crunch your #s.

 

[LDB]

Many of your costs are static on a per mile basis whether driving a mile to the store or 1000 miles on a weekend load. Although there will be some difference in tire wear between d/h and with a 2k# load, your tire costs are going to be basically a set amount per mile. The same goes for most wear items. Your biggest variable is going to be the payment on a loan and the replacement fund if there is no loan. If you have a $600 a month payment and only do 1k miles it's 60cpm. If you do 10k miles it's 6cpm. Using the OOIDA spreadsheet and figuring your best estimate of annual miles driven is a good idea.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB
OOIDA Life Member 677319, JOIN NOW
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[ATeam]

You are asking good questions, Raynchk. That's nice to see.

 

[nightcreacher]

doesnt matter if your driving a bus or a van or a tractor trailer,your going to have two sets of costs,the costs that are constant,and those that are variable.
your depreciation,interest on your note,insurance,liscense plates and all other stuff you spend the same amount for each month are constant figures,the things you do on the road,fuel,service,tires,tolls,and anything else you do on the road are variables.
if you try to figure what the cost is per load it will drive you crazy,what you can do is figure your constants for the year,the divide that by your estimated miles for the year,then after you have that figure,take your variable costs,and divide that by the miles you run a week.If you add these two together,you will get an aproximate of what you mileage costs will be,but dont try to determin this by each load as each load will have a different cost to do.You dont need to buy as much fuel for a 100 mile run as you do on a 1000 mile run,you wont wash your van every week,it may only need washed once a month.You may go in a motel one night,or you may go everynight,so the best way to figure costs are what you actually do each month
hope this helps

 

[x06col]

You really won't know what your cost per mile is/was/ has been, until the end of the year. However you can do an estimate by quarters that may help. Cost per mile is extremely varible depending on the season, how busy you are, etc. Suggest you do a half million mile spreadsheet, might help with the near term jitters.