Starting a trucking business is exciting, but if you’re not careful, fuel costs can eat into your profits faster than you can say “next load.” Whether you’re running one box truck or a growing fleet, understanding how to factor gas costs into your business plan is one of the smartest moves you’ll ever make.
Let's take a look and try to break it down.
Fuel Isn’t Just an Expense, It’s a Strategy
Most new owner-operators treat fuel like a bill. But smart operators see it as a profit strategy.
Every route, load, and mile you drive is tied to how efficiently you burn fuel. When you know your cost per mile, you can bid smarter and keep more money in your pocket.
Here’s the math:
If diesel costs $4.25 a gallon and your truck gets 9 MPG, your fuel cost per mile is about 47 cents.
If you book a load that pays $2.25 per mile, that means 21% of your revenue goes straight to fuel.
Knowing that number helps you decide whether a load is really worth it.
Build Fuel Costs Into Every Rate You Quote
Before you accept a load, factor your fuel cost into your rate per mile.
If the rate doesn’t leave room for fuel and profit, it’s not a good deal no matter how quick the run sounds.
As a rule of thumb, your minimum profitable rate should cover:
-
Fuel cost per mile
-
Insurance
-
Maintenance
-
Dispatch fees (if applicable)
-
Driver pay (even if you’re the driver)
Hudson Brothers Expedite’s AI dispatch tools help estimate and compare loads by factoring in fuel cost, mileage, and time, so you can make smarter decisions before hitting the road.
Use Fuel Cards and Partner Discounts
Don’t pay pump prices like the average driver.
Professional carriers have access to fleet fuel cards that can save 10–30 cents per gallon, depending on the network.
Hudson Brothers Expedite partners with several discount programs designed for owner-operators. These cards also:
-
Track your fuel purchases
-
Simplify bookkeeping
-
Help you budget weekly gas expenses
Optimize Routes for Efficiency
Fuel efficiency isn’t just about the truck — it’s about the plan.
Our dispatch software uses AI-based routing to minimize deadhead miles, helping you avoid unnecessary trips that burn cash.
Shorter routes, smarter scheduling, and better planning equal real savings.
Keep Your Truck Maintained
It might sound simple, but a well-maintained truck burns less fuel.
Clean air filters, proper tire pressure, and regular oil changes can improve mileage by up to 10% — which adds up fast over long hauls.
If you drive 80,000 miles a year, that’s nearly $3,000 in savings just from good maintenance.
Use Factoring Companies Wisely
“Factoring” in trucking usually refers to getting paid faster by selling your invoices to a factoring company.
When used correctly, factoring helps you keep cash flowing for fuel, maintenance, and tolls.
Choose a factoring partner with low fees and same-day pay, and always calculate how their cut affects your per-mile profit.
Fuel is one of the biggest costs in trucking, but it’s also one of the most controllable — when you plan ahead.
By calculating your cost per mile, using discounts, and managing routes efficiently, you’ll turn fuel from a burden into a profit advantage.
At Hudson Brothers Expedite LLC, we help new owner-operators navigate every step — from buying your first truck to booking your first load profitably.
Need help setting up your trucking business or cutting fuel costs?
Contact us today at info@hudsonbrothersexpeditellc.com and learn how we can help you fund, manage, and grow your fleet with confidence.