Driver settlement calculator
Work out a driver or owner-operator settlement for one pay period: base pay, accessorials, deductions and reimbursements, down to net pay. It also compares per-mile and percentage pay on the same miles. The numbers filled in are an illustrative owner-operator example.
Settlement
- Base pay (75% of linehaul)
- $4,687.50
- + Accessorials
- $250.00
- Gross pay
- $4,937.50
- − Deductions
- -$1,595.00
- + Reimbursements
- $60.00
Net pay
$3,402.50
Per mile vs percentage, same miles
- Per-mile base pay
- $4,800.00
- 75% of linehaul
- $4,687.50
- Percentage minus per-mile
- -$112.50
Percentage pay matches per-mile pay at a linehaul of $6,400.00.
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How a settlement is built
Net pay = base pay + accessorial pay − deductions + reimbursements. Base pay comes from the pay structure in the driver's agreement: per mile (often with a different rate for empty miles), a percentage of the load's linehaul, or a flat amount per load. Accessorials such as detention, extra stops and layover are added on top. Deductions — fuel advances, escrow, insurance, ELD and plate charges — come out, and out-of-pocket costs the driver covered, like tolls and scale tickets, are paid back.
Worked example (the default numbers)
- Base pay: 75% of $6,250.00 linehaul = $4,687.50.
- Accessorials: $150.00 detention + $100.00 stop pay = $250.00, so gross pay is $4,937.50.
- Deductions: $1,200.00 fuel + $100.00 escrow + $250.00 insurance + $45.00 ELD/other = $1,595.00.
- Net pay: $4,937.50 − $1,595.00 + $60.00 reimbursements = $3,402.50.
- On per-mile pay the same trip pays 2,500 × $1.80 + 300 × $1.00 = $4,800.00. Percentage pay only wins once linehaul passes $6,400.00.
Read more: Driver settlement calculation explained and Owner-operator pay: percentage vs per mile.
Frequently asked questions
How is a driver settlement calculated?
Start with base pay for the period (miles × rate, a percentage of linehaul, or a flat amount per load), add accessorial pay such as detention, extra stops and layover, subtract deductions such as fuel advances, escrow and insurance, then add back reimbursements such as tolls or scale tickets. The result is net pay.
Is percentage pay better than per-mile pay for owner-operators?
It depends on the freight. Percentage pay tracks the rate, so it pays more on high-paying loads and less on cheap ones. Per-mile pay is predictable but ignores the rate. The comparison in this calculator shows the linehaul at which the two are equal for your miles.
Should empty miles be paid?
That is a policy decision. Many carriers pay empty miles at a lower rate than loaded miles, some pay the same, and some pay nothing. Whatever you choose, write it in the driver agreement and apply it consistently on every settlement.
Are accessorials paid at the percentage too?
Agreements differ. This calculator treats the accessorial amounts you enter as the driver's share, added on top of base pay — enter what the driver actually receives.
What if deductions are larger than pay?
Net pay goes negative, which the calculator shows. In practice that balance is usually carried forward or recovered per the lease or employment agreement, so check what yours says.
Run settlements from your loads, not a spreadsheet
Techvia TMS stores pay structures for company drivers, lease and owner-operators, and builds driver, carrier and dispatcher settlements from the loads they ran. 30-day free trial, no credit card required.