Hotshot Rate Calculator
Hotshot loads get quoted every way but consistently — a flat rate on a partial load, a per-mile rate on a full gooseneck, sometimes just "what's your best number." Both calculators below start from the same cost-per-mile floor: one tells you if a specific load actually clears money, the other tells you the lowest rate per loaded mile you can quote before you're working for free.
Will this load make money?
profit = gross − (total miles × cost per mile) − factoring fee
Your break-even rate
break-even per loaded mile = cost per mile ÷ (1 − deadhead %)
FAQ
How do I quote a partial hotshot load?
A partial load — anything short of a full gooseneck — still costs you the same fixed costs per mile; your truck payment and insurance don't care if the deck is half empty. Quote from your real cost per mile, not a flat "partial discount" pulled from habit, and run the numbers through the load profit calculator above before you commit to a rate.
Should I negotiate rate per mile or a flat rate?
Either works as long as you convert it back to your cost per mile before deciding. A flat rate on a 300-mile partial and a per-mile rate on a 900-mile full gooseneck are only comparable once you divide the flat rate by the miles — do that math before you compare two offers side by side.