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Fuel Cost Per Shipment Calculator

Work out fuel cost per shipment instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Fuel Cost Per Shipment Calculator

Fuel cost per tonne-kilometre is the standard freight efficiency measure because it normalises for both load and distance. It is what makes a comparison between a part-loaded short run and a full long-haul meaningful.

Formulas

Litres consumed

Litres = Distance x Consumption per 100 km / 100

Cost per tonne-kilometre

Per tonne-km = Fuel cost / (Tonnes x Distance)

Worked example

With the default values below, Fuel Cost Per Shipment Calculator returns Total fuel cost for the shipment of $19,660.80. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Shipment distance
640 km
Fuel consumption
32 L/100km
Fuel price per litre
96
Shipment weight
18 t

Results

Total fuel cost for the shipment
$19,660.80
Litres consumed
204.8
Fuel cost per tonne carried
$1,092.27
Fuel cost per tonne-kilometre
1.7067

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Litres consumed
  3. 3Cost per tonne-kilometre
  4. 4Total fuel cost for the shipment= 19,660.80
  5. 5Litres consumed= 204.8
  6. 6Fuel cost per tonne carried= 1,092.27
  7. 7Fuel cost per tonne-kilometre= 1.7067

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why measure per tonne-kilometre?

Because it isolates efficiency from the size of the job. A vehicle at half load has roughly double the fuel cost per tonne-kilometre.

What improves fuel efficiency most?

Load factor first, then driving style and route choice. Vehicle specification matters but delivers less than eliminating part-loaded running.

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