How Much Does It Cost to Run a Semi-Truck Per Mile in 2026?
Real 2026 cost-per-mile numbers for owner-operators: fuel, maintenance, insurance, truck payment, driver pay, and the line items most carriers forget.
In 2026, the all-in cost to run a semi-truck for the average owner-operator is $1.85–$2.10 per total mile. Fleets run cheaper per truck because of insurance and shop leverage; brand-new authorities with one truck and a fresh payment can easily push $2.30+/mile.
The 7 cost buckets that build CPM
1. Fuel — $0.55–$0.85/mile
At $3.80/gal diesel and 6.5 MPG, fuel is about $0.58/mile. West Coast diesel, reefer idle, mountain pulls, and winter MPG losses all push it up. Track it with the Fuel Surcharge Calculator.
2. Truck + trailer payment — $0.25–$0.55/mile
A typical new tractor + trailer at $2,200/mo run over 10,000 miles/month is $0.22/mile. Newer or leased equipment, plus second-trailer carrying costs, pushes higher.
3. Insurance — $0.10–$0.18/mile
Auto liability, physical damage, and cargo for a single-truck authority in 2026 runs $14,000–$22,000/year, or roughly $0.12/mile at 120K miles.
4. Maintenance & tires — $0.15–$0.22/mile
Industry benchmark from ATRI is around $0.18/mile when you include preventive maintenance, brakes, drive tires (~$2,500/set, 90K miles), and roadside.
5. Driver pay — $0.50–$0.65/mile (or $0 if you drive)
If you are the driver, do NOT zero this out — pay yourself a market rate so the truck's profitability is honest. See driver pay per mile vs. percentage.
6. Permits, ELD, factoring, tolls — $0.05–$0.10/mile
IFTA, IRP, 2290 HVUT, ELD subscription, broker factoring (3–5%), tolls. Small per line, real in aggregate.
7. Reserves & owner profit — $0.10–$0.20/mile
Skipping this is the #1 reason small carriers fail. Build a reserve for engine repairs, downtime, and slow weeks before you call any rate "profitable".
Add it up
$0.58 fuel + $0.22 payment + $0.12 insurance + $0.18 maintenance + $0.55 driver + $0.08 misc + $0.15 reserves = $1.88/mile all-in.
The number that matters
Calculate your real CPM with the Cost Per Mile Calculator, then compare every load against it on a total-mile basis. State-by-state breakdowns are on the cost per mile hub.