Every Owner-Operator Expense You Need to Track (and How to Automate It)
The average owner-operator spends between $180,000 and $220,000 per year to keep their truck running and their business operating (ATRI, 2024). Yet most do not know their true cost per mile until tax time — and by then, it is too late to fix anything. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 5 new trucking businesses fail within 2 years, and the #1 reason is poor financial management. TRU LOAD tracks all 13 expense categories automatically so you always know your real numbers.
Start Free — No Card Required13 Expense Categories Every O/O Must Track
Fuel
(33-40% of total)Largest single expense. Varies with diesel prices and MPG.
Truck Payment
(10-15% of total)Monthly lease or loan payment on your truck.
Insurance
(5-10% of total)Liability, cargo, physical damage, bobtail, and occupational accident.
Maintenance & Repairs
(5-9% of total)Oil, tires, brakes, engine, preventive maintenance.
Tires
(2-3% of total)Steer, drive, and trailer tires plus retreads.
Tolls
(2-4% of total)Turnpikes, bridges, tunnels. Varies heavily by region.
Permits & Licensing
(1-2% of total)IRP, IFTA, UCR, overweight/oversize, state permits.
Technology
(1-2% of total)ELD, dashcam, GPS, TRU LOAD subscription, phone plan.
Truck Wash
(<1% of total)Exterior wash, interior cleaning, trailer washout.
Parking
(1-3% of total)Paid truck parking at stops and rest areas.
Legal & Accounting
(<2% of total)Tax preparation, bookkeeping, legal consultations.
Drug Testing & Medical
(<1% of total)DOT physical, random drug/alcohol tests.
Supplies & Equipment
(<2% of total)Straps, chains, tarps, bungees, gloves, PPE.
Based on 120,000 miles/year. Excludes driver pay/draw. Source: ATRI, BLS, industry surveys.
How TRU LOAD Auto-Tracks All 13 Categories
Receipt Scanning for Variable Costs
Fuel, maintenance, tolls, parking, supplies, truck wash — snap a photo, AI categorizes it instantly. Your variable costs are tracked in real time as they happen.
Recurring Expenses on Autopilot
Set up recurring expenses once — truck payment, insurance, permits, subscriptions — and they are auto-logged every month. Never miss a cost entry.
Real-Time Cost Per Mile
TRU LOAD divides your total expenses by total miles driven (from GPS) to show your actual cost per mile in real time. Updated daily. See trends by week, month, or quarter.
Know Your True Cost Per Mile — In Real Time
Expense tracking across all 13 categories is included in Starter at $49/month. Receipt scanning, auto-categorization, recurring expenses, and real-time cost per mile. Works with the freight you already haul.
Start Free — No Card RequiredFrequently Asked Questions
What is a good cost per mile for an owner-operator?+
The average owner-operator cost per mile in 2024 was $1.50-$1.85 (ATRI). Top-performing O/Os keep costs under $1.50/mile through fuel efficiency, preventive maintenance, and smart route planning. If your cost per mile is above $2.00, you need to identify where the excess is coming from.
What is the biggest expense I can control?+
Fuel is your biggest expense (33-40% of total costs) and also the most controllable. Improving fuel efficiency by just 0.5 MPG saves approximately $5,000-$7,000/year. Other controllable factors: reducing deadhead miles, preventive maintenance (avoiding costly breakdowns), and choosing routes that minimize tolls.
How does TRU LOAD track expenses automatically?+
TRU LOAD uses three methods: (1) Receipt scanning — snap a photo and AI reads/categorizes it, (2) GPS tracking — automatically tracks miles for per-mile cost calculations and IFTA, (3) Manual entry — for recurring expenses like insurance and truck payments that you set up once.
Should I track expenses weekly or monthly?+
With TRU LOAD, expenses are tracked in real-time as they happen. You can view summaries by day, week, month, quarter, or year. Real-time tracking means you always know your current cost per mile and can make decisions accordingly — no waiting for month-end to discover problems.
Related Guides
Know Every Dollar Going Out
13 expense categories, tracked automatically, with real-time cost per mile. TRU LOAD gives you the financial clarity to run a profitable trucking business.
Start Free — No Card Required