Power only (your tractor, their trailer) freight rate per mile
National-average reference range (DAT 2026 basis, all-in including fuel surcharge). Reference ranges only, your lane, season, and fuel will move these. Always price your own load. Price your load with the calculator below.
Low end
$1.75/mi
High end
$2.45/mi
Typical fuel economy
7.5 mpg
What drives the Power Only rate
- Drop-trailer pool availability from shippers sets the baseline for work volume and rate.
- No trailer depreciation lowers your cost floor, but rate ceilings are lower as well.
- Running tractor-only improves fuel economy and narrows cost per mile significantly.
- Lane density: shippers with dense trailer networks offer more consistent power-only rates.
How to price your Power Only load
Your cost-per-mile floor drops without trailer depreciation, but rate ceilings are lower too. Model fuel, deadhead, and fixed costs in the load calculator below to find your minimum acceptable rate per lane.
Open load profit calculatorFrequently asked questions
Power only (your tractor, their trailer) is $1.75-$2.45/mile all-in (DAT 2026 national average). Your specific lane, season, and fuel costs will move these numbers significantly in either direction, so always price from your actual lane data before accepting a load.
