Calculation of the cost price of road transport
Estimate the cost price of round-trip transport in 3 steps with theCNR trinomial method(CK + CC + CJ). You get your total cost, your cost per kilometer and a recommended retail price — free of charge, without registration.
- 1Transport
- 2Costs
- 3Charges
- 4Contact details
Transport settings
These parameters define the main characteristics of your mission. They serve as the basis for calculating the cost price according to the trinomial formula.
Step 1 to 4 · your entries are retained
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What is this cost calculator for?
The cost price is the amount that a transport actually costs you, before any margin. Knowing it is vital: it is the only reliable basis for setting a profitable selling price, accepting or refusing an order, and avoiding running at a loss. Many operators still calculate it “by feeling” or on a corner of a spreadsheet — at the risk of under-invoicing without knowing it.
This free calculator gives you, in three guided steps, the cost price of round-trip transport: total cost of the mission, cost per kilometer and recommended retail price depending on the margin you are targeting. It is based on the trinomial method, the reference of the National Road Committee (CNR) used in all road transport of goods.
It is aimed both at the craftsman who wants to check a quote and at the operator of an SME or mid-sized company who is looking to professionalize their pricing policy. No registration, no data sent: the calculation is done instantly on the screen.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Describe the mission
Round trip distance, hours of service and days of vehicle and driver mobilization.
- 2
Enter your costs
Fuel prices, consumption, tolls and hourly cost of the driver. Realistic default values are pre-populated.
- 3
Add your structural charges
Depreciation, insurance and annual charges — or enter your daily cost directly if you know it.
- 4
Read your result
Total cost, cost per kilometer, CK / CC / CJ breakdown and recommended retail price are displayed immediately.
The trinomial method, explained
The cost price of transport is broken down into three added terms:Cost price = CK + CC + CJ. This is the logic of the CNR reference system: we isolate what depends on kilometers, what depends on driving time, and what depends on vehicle immobilization.
Mileage cost
Charges linked to distance: fuel (consumption × km × price), to which are added the tolls for the round trip. The more you ride, the more this position increases.
Driving cost (driver)
The cost of rolling staff: the hours of service of the mission multiplied by the hourly cost charged (gross salary + contributions + expenses).
Daily cost (fixed charges)
Fixed costs per day of mobilization: vehicle depreciation, insurance, maintenance and structural costs, reduced to the number of annual days of use.
Can we trust this result?
The trinomial method is the sector reference: it is the one that the CNR follows to publish its cost indices. Correctly informed, it gives a solid estimate. Here's what to keep in mind.
What makes the calculation reliable
- A standardized method recognized throughout road transport (CNR reference).
- The three main families of loads are covered: kilometers, time, structure.
- The suggested retail price incorporates your target margin, not just your costs.
What it does not replace
- Your actual costs: they depend on your fleet, your contracts and your operation.
- Indirect costs (empty returns, waiting, disputes) which weigh on real profitability.
- Long-term monitoring: a fair cost price is updated with your actual data.
Beyond estimation: manage your costs with Signal
This calculator gives you an estimate. For your cost figures to reflect reality, you must feed them with your operating data. This is the role of Signal, the simple and complete TMS designed for road transport of goods.
The actual cost of each vehicle
Mileage, maintenance, depreciation and charges per vehicle and trailer: your daily costs (DCC) are finally based on real figures, not averages.
From cost to price charged
Log your transports, keep track of what each mission cost, and charge the right price to stop running at a loss.
Real driving hours
Route sheet and signatures eCMR on the driver's side: hours of service (CC) and deliveries are traced automatically.
A history that refines your calculations
All your transport centralized and searchable: compare the estimate to the actual and adjust your pricing policy over time.
A TMS that goes against historical software
Traditional transportation management solutions are expensive, cumbersome and reserved for large groups. Signal takes the opposite view.
Easy to handle
A clear interface, designed for operators. You are up and running in minutes, without training lasting several days.
Complete, without gas plant
Vehicle costs, transport, eCMR, tracking and invoicing combined — without modules to assemble or hidden options.
Accessible to all
A free offer that can be used and predictable prices depending on your team. From the craftsman to the mid-sized company.
Other free calculators
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Go from estimation to management
Create your free account and start tracking your costs, transportation and documents all in one place. Without a bank card.
Frequently asked questions about costing
How to calculate the cost price of transport?
We add three items: the kilometric cost (CK: fuel + tolls), the driving cost (CC: hours of service × hourly cost of the driver) and the daily cost (CJ: fixed vehicle costs reduced to the day). The total gives the cost price of the mission; divided by the kilometers, it gives the cost per kilometer. That's exactly what this calculator does.
What is the CNR trinomial method?
The trinomial is the breakdown of the cost price into three terms – kilometric, driving and daily – retained by the National Road Committee (CNR), the reference body which publishes the cost indices for French road transport. This is the calculation basis most used by carriers and principals.
What is the difference between cost price and selling price?
The cost price is what the mission costs you. The selling price is what you charge: cost price + margin. Selling at cost means working at zero. This calculator displays a recommended selling price based on the margin you are aiming for to remain profitable.
How to calculate the mileage cost of a heavy goods vehicle?
The kilometric cost brings together charges that vary with distance: fuel (consumption per 100 km × kilometers × price per liter) and tolls. By relating it to the total mission, you obtain your cost price per kilometer, the most meaningful indicator for comparing and negotiating.
What charges should be included in the cost price?
Variable costs (fuel, tolls), driver cost (charged salary × service time) and fixed vehicle costs (depreciation, insurance, maintenance, structural costs) distributed per day of use. Don't forget the unbilled days: the less you drive, the more the daily cost weighs on each mission.
Is this calculation sufficient to set my prices?
It gives you a solid and immediate foundation. For a pricing policy that is reliable over time, base it on your actual costs: observed consumption, maintenance, mileage and hours actually worked. This is precisely what a tool like Signal centralizes, transport after transport.
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