How to Calculate Miles per Gallon for a Trip

For many of us, the odometer reading is just another number on the dashboard. But for professional drivers, every mile driven is a piece of the puzzle. From delivery drivers to taxi operators, truckers to rideshare specialists, mileage tracking is more than just a good habit – it’s essential.

Here’s why mileage matters for professional drivers:

Tax Deductions: The IRS allows a standard mileage deduction for business use of your vehicle. Tracking your miles meticulously can save you significant money come tax season.

Reimbursement: Many companies reimburse employees for mileage incurred during work hours. Accurate mileage records ensure you know how much to charge for driving per mile and to be fairly compensated for every mile driven.

Maintenance Planning: Scheduled maintenance is crucial for keeping your vehicle running smoothly and safely. Knowing your mileage helps you anticipate upcoming service needs and budget accordingly.

Fuel Efficiency Tracking: Monitoring your mileage alongside fuel costs gives valuable insights into your vehicle’s efficiency. This can help you identify areas for improvement and potentially save on fuel expenses.

Route Optimization: Knowing the exact distance between stops allows you to plan the most efficient routes. MyRouteOnline can help you calculate the mileage with ease.

Mileage Calculation and Cost Tracking

Planning efficient routes is a constant challenge for professional drivers. Traffic congestion, unexpected detours, and ever-changing delivery schedules can throw a wrench into the best-laid plans.
MyRouteOnline simplifies mileage calculation and cost tracking, saving you time and frustration. Here’s how:

Intuitive Interface: Simply enter your stops (addresses or zip codes) into the user-friendly platform.

Automatic Distance Calculation: MyRouteOnline calculates the distance between each stop and presents the total mileage for your entire route.

Multiple Stops Made Easy: Planning a complex route with multiple deliveries? No problem! MyRouteOnline can handle it, ensuring you get the most accurate mileage data.

How to Calculate Miles per Gallon for a Trip:

Once you have your total mileage for a trip from MyRouteOnline, you can use it to determine two key metrics:

Miles Covered: This is simply the total distance you travel, provided by MyRouteOnline.

Cost per Mile: This represents how much it costs to operate your vehicle for every mile driven. To calculate it, you’ll need to consider:

Fuel Costs: Divide the total fuel spent on a trip by the total mileage from MyRouteOnline.

Vehicle Maintenance: Estimate the average cost per mile for maintenance based on your vehicle’s make, model, and recommended service intervals.

Insurance: Factor in the average cost of car insurance per mile. (Divide your annual premium by your estimated annual mileage).

Depreciation: Consider the depreciation cost per mile (total car depreciation divided by estimated total mileage lifespan).

By adding these costs together and dividing by the total mileage from MyRouteOnline, you get your cost per mile.

Calculating Miles per Gallon (MPG) for a Trip:

MyRouteOnline doesn’t directly calculate MPG, but you can easily do it yourself using the mileage data and gas receipts:

1. Track Your Gallons Used: Fill up your gas tank before your trip and note the gallons purchased.
2. Record Your Mileage: Use MyRouteOnline to calculate the total trip mileage.
3. Divide Miles by Gallons: Simply divide the total mileage from MyRouteOnline by the number of gallons used. This will give you your MPG for that specific trip.

Average Cost per Mile Driving:

The national average cost per mile driving in the US fluctuates and includes factors like gas prices, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. Your individual cost per mile may vary depending on your vehicle, driving habits, and local fuel costs.
By using MyRouteOnline and calculating your own cost per mile, you can ensure you’re accurately reflecting operational expenses when setting your rates.
With MyRouteOnline, you can ditch the pen and paper, stop guessing distances, and focus on what matters most – getting the job done efficiently and profitably.