Trip Fuel Cost Calculator — Gallons, Reefer, DEF
Per trip, per week, or per month — same math. Tractor fuel plus reefer and DEF adders.
TOTAL FUEL COST
$—
Gallons needed—
Tractor fuel—
Fuel $/mi—
Worked example: 1,000 miles at 6.5 MPG, $6.20 diesel
Gallons 153.85, tractor fuel $953.87, total $953.87 ≈ $0.95/mi with no reefer or DEF.
Trip fuel questions
How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?
Miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. A 1,000-mile trip at 6.5 MPG and $6.20 diesel burns 153.85 gallons ≈ $953.87 tractor fuel.
How much extra does reefer fuel add?
Reefer units burn roughly 0.5–1.0 gal/hr. Twenty gallons at pump price adds $124 on the example trip — enter it separately so it never hides in tractor MPG.
Should DEF go in fuel cost?
Yes, as its own line. DEF runs ~$0.02–$0.04/mi; folding it into diesel MPG understates both numbers at audit time.