How to use this guide
Read the sections in order the first time, then use the headings as a working checklist. Keep one time period, vehicle or fleet definition, and set of units throughout the calculation. Replace examples with actual documents and note the source date when a rate or rule can change.
Save or download a calculator scenario only after reviewing every field. The site performs planning arithmetic; it does not validate the records, determine legal treatment, submit a form, or bind a carrier, customer, government agency, lender, or tax authority.
One-time setup
List truck and trailer down payments, authority and filing fees, registration and permits, insurance down payment, ELD and safety equipment, professional services, office setup, and other launch items. Separate own-authority requirements from lease-on requirements.
Obtain current quotes and identify refundable deposits or escrow separately from expenses.
Monthly burn and working capital
Estimate equipment payment, insurance, parking, subscriptions, compliance, phone, accounting, and other fixed cost. Add fuel float and the delay between delivering a load and receiving usable cash. A factoring advance changes timing and fees but does not create additional revenue.
Use the calculator for two-, selected-, and four-month reserve scenarios.
Repair and downside reserve
Maintenance reserve should reflect equipment age, condition, warranty, inspection results, tire position, and the cost of downtime. A reserve is not the same as an expected monthly expense; it protects against uneven events.
Run a downside launch scenario with slower revenue, higher insurance, and an early repair. Do not start based only on a best-case week.
Verification and decision checklist
- Define the business question and time period before collecting inputs.
- Use primary records and current official sources where they apply.
- Keep paid miles, all miles, revenue, cash, deduction, tax effect, cost, and profit labels distinct.
- Run a conservative scenario when price, miles, utilization, delay, or tax treatment is uncertain.
- Compare the planning result with the controlling contract, settlement, filing instructions, or professional review.
Update the calculation when a route, quarter, rate, carrier policy, equipment decision, or source document changes. A saved estimate is a snapshot of assumptions, not a live guarantee.
Important limits
This guide is general education, not legal, tax, accounting, payroll, lending, investment, insurance, dispatch, safety, or compliance advice. Do not use it to change duty status, exceed equipment ratings, disregard a warning, or make an emergency decision. Current rules, documents, and qualified advice control.