Work smarter, not harder. Learn how to save your truck's specs forever and use the calculator to negotiate higher rates.
Saving Your Setup (Cookies)
You shouldn't have to type in your truck's oil capacity or insurance costs every single time you want to quote a load.
Once you have all your Maintenance and Fixed Costs filled out perfectly, click the Save Setup to Cookies button at the top of the calculator.
100% Private: Your data never leaves your device. It is saved directly to your phone or computer's browser using local cookies.
One Year Memory: The cookie will remember your exact setup for 365 days. Next time you open the app, you only have to change the miles!
Clear Settings: Bought a new rig? Just click the Clear Settings button to wipe the slate clean and start over.
The "Copy Breakdown" Negotiator
Telling a broker "I need $1,500" often gets a response of "The best I can do is $1,200." But when you show your math, it's a completely different conversation.
When you click the Copy Breakdown button under the Trip Summary, it generates a detailed professional breakdown showing exactly why you need your rate — line by line.
🚛 PROFESSIONAL TRIP COST ANALYSIS
Generated: March 4, 2026
truckcalc.lorentedford.com
════════════════════════════════════
📍 ROUTE & EQUIPMENT
Equipment: Power Only
Total Miles: 500 mi
Loaded Miles: 450 mi (revenue miles)
Deadhead Miles: 50 mi (my out-of-pocket cost)
Fuel Economy: 7.5 MPG | Diesel: $3.85/gal
💸 ITEMIZED OPERATING COSTS
Diesel Fuel (66.7 gal × $3.85/gal)
$256.67
Oil & Filters (amortized) $19.00
General Repairs & Wear $125.00
Tire Wear (18 tires, amortized)
$36.00
Brake Wear (5 axle sets, amortized)
$6.00
Insurance ($0.18/mi)
$90.00
IFTA Fuel Tax ($0.05/mi)
$25.00
ELD / Tracking ($0.02/mi)
$10.00
──────────────────────────────────
Total Operating Cost: $567.67
Driver Take-Home: +$500.00
══════════════════════════════════
MINIMUM REQUIRED GROSS: $1,067.67
📊 RATE REQUIREMENTS
Per Loaded Mile: $2.37/mi
Per Total Mile: $2.14/mi
🔍 OFFER ANALYSIS
Your Offer ($1.85/mi × 450 mi)
= $832.50
My Minimum: $1,067.67
❌ This offer does NOT cover my verified costs.
Shortfall: $235.17
I need at least $2.37/loaded mile to accept.
Every number above is a documented, real operating expense — not
padding. This is my break-even. My rate is $2.37/loaded mile.
Paste this directly into a load board chat, email, or text message. A broker cannot argue with documented math that clearly shows your break-even point. If they still lowball you after seeing this, you know exactly how much you'd be losing — and you can walk away.
Broker Red Flags & How to Respond
Knowing your numbers is only half the battle. Here are the most common pressure tactics brokers use — and exactly how to counter them.
"That's the best rate on the board."
This is almost always false. Load boards show a range of rates and brokers pick the floor.
Your Response: "My cost breakdown is $X. If the rate doesn't cover that, I have to pass. Let me know if anything changes."
"We have a driver ready to take it cheaper."
Maybe they do. But a driver hauling at a loss is about to have a very bad day. That's not your problem.
Your Response: "Good luck with them. My minimum is $X — reach out if that works." Then hang up and move on.
"It's only 400 loaded miles, it's an easy run."
Short runs often have high deadhead and low rates. Easy doesn't pay the bills.
Your Response: "Easy or not, my fuel and overhead are the same. I'm at $X — does that work?"
"I'll make it up to you on the backhaul."
Verbal promises from brokers are worth nothing. If there is no backhaul on the rate confirmation, there is no backhaul.
Your Response: "Put it in writing on the rate confirmation and I'll consider it. Otherwise my rate for this load is $X."
"This shipper books a lot of loads. I can keep you busy."
Future loads don't pay today's diesel bill. Consistency is good, but you must still be profitable on every single load.
Your Response: "I'd love consistent work. But each load needs to stand on its own. My minimum for this run is $X."
The Golden Rule: Never negotiate against yourself. State your number, explain it with your breakdown, and be willing to walk away. Brokers respect drivers who know their cost. They prey on drivers who don't.
Calculate First. Talk Second.
The single most important habit you can build is to run the numbers before you call a broker back. Never quote a rate off the top of your head.
Get the load details: pickup, delivery, and miles from the load board.
Open the calculator and enter the deadhead miles from your location to the shipper.
Enter the loaded miles (shipper to receiver).
Enter your desired profit for this trip in the "Your Payday" section.
Look at the Total Required Gross and the Rate Per Loaded Mile.
Call the broker back with that number. If they won't meet it, use the Copy Breakdown as proof and hold your position.
Remember: A load that doesn't cover your costs isn't a load. It's a debt. No load is better than a bad load.