Freight Rate Calculator: live $/mile for any lane
Estimate truckload, LTL, and rail intermodal rates in seconds: a spot and contract benchmark, the fuel surcharge from the DOE weekly diesel average, and a total lane cost. Free, no signup required.
How it works
- Enter your origin and destination ZIP or city.
- Pick equipment (dry van, reefer, flatbed, dump, or rail intermodal) and weight.
- FreightFA applies the latest $/mile benchmark for that equipment and distance, adds the fuel surcharge, and returns a total cost.
- Compare against rail intermodal, see CO₂e emissions, and ask Freight Flow AI why the lane is priced the way it is.
National truckload rates as of October 15, 2026
- Dry van: $3.09/mi all-in including fuel ($2.26 linehaul + $0.83 fuel surcharge), DAT week ending Oct 10.
- Reefer: $3.66/mi all-in including fuel ($2.75 linehaul + $0.91 fuel surcharge), DAT week ending Oct 10.
- Flatbed: $3.65/mi all-in including fuel ($2.65 linehaul + $1.00 fuel surcharge), DAT week ending Oct 10.
- FreightFA live-quote index, dry van: $3.56/mi all-in, the average of today's bookable shipper quotes on 25 benchmark lanes. It runs above DAT because it is the shipper side of the market.
- Diesel: $6.20/gal, EIA U.S. average retail, week of Oct 5.
These figures were current when this page was published. DAT and EIA publish weekly and FreightFA checks them daily; the live numbers are at https://freightfa.com/tools/trucking-rates-per-mile.
Frequently asked questions
How is a freight rate calculated?
From a base linehaul (typically a $/mile rate times distance), a fuel surcharge tied to the DOE national diesel average, and accessorials such as detention, layover, lumper, or tarps. LTL adds NMFC class and density; rail intermodal adds ramp drayage.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. The FreightFA Rate Estimator is free to use, with no credit card. Pro adds higher volume, alerts, RFP exports, and per-carrier estimates.
How is FreightFA different from SONAR Quick Rates?
SONAR Quick Rates is a per-lane lookup inside FreightWaves' SONAR platform. FreightFA is a standalone freight intelligence app with lane benchmarks plus AI mode recommendation, rail intermodal pricing, an AI analyst, and a free tier. Side by side: https://freightfa.com/vs/sonar-quick-rates.
Open the live page for current data and tools.