OWNER-OPERATOR MONTHLY COST CHECKLIST
Write your number in the blank. The ranges beside it are planning figures already published on our monthly expenses guide. They describe one example: a solo dry van at 9,000 miles with a financed truck. They are not your costs and not a quote.
Updated October 9, 2026. Sources are the two guides linked on this page. Nothing here is tax, legal, or financial advice.
FIXED COSTS
| Line | Range on the expenses guide | Your month |
|---|---|---|
| Truck payment | $1,200–$2,000 | |
| Insurance (liability + cargo + physical damage) | $1,000–$1,500 | |
| Phone + ELD + load board | $200–$350 | |
| Permits and licenses (monthly amortized) | $100–$200 | |
| Accounting / bookkeeping | $0–$200 |
VARIABLE COSTS
| Line | Range on the expenses guide | Your month |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | $4,500–$6,000 | |
| Maintenance and repairs | $500–$1,000 | |
| Tires (monthly amortized) | $250–$400 | |
| Tolls and scales | $300–$600 | |
| Dispatch or factoring fees | $500–$1,200 |
HIDDEN COSTS
| Line | Range on the expenses guide | Your month |
|---|---|---|
| Truck washes | $50–$150 | |
| Parking (overnight, reserved) | $100–$300 | |
| Lumpers / unloading fees | $0–$200 | |
| Meals and food on the road | $400–$700 | |
| Roadside / emergency reserve | $100–$300 | |
| Misc (gear, cleaning, small repairs) | $100–$250 | |
| Total on that example | $9,400–$15,350 |
Other bands on the same expenses page.
- Solo monthly total: $9,500–$15,000
- First year, financed truck: $13,000–$15,000+
- Paid-off truck, year 3+ insurance: $7,500–$9,000
- Fuel share: 30–35% of gross
- Cost per mile band on that page: $1.20–$1.60 for most operators
WHAT YOU KEEP
What you keep depends on your cost per mile. This page does not publish a take-home. Run a month of miles on the cost per mile calculator. A single hot shot load goes in the hot shot rate calculator. The workbook version of this list is the P&L Playbook ($29.99).