How Owner-Drivers Price Freight Jobs

Start with a vehicle running cost per kilometre that reflects fuel, tyres, servicing and wear. Keep a separate allowance for ownership and business overheads such as registration, insurance, finance, administration and equipment replacement. Work out what you need to earn for your time as well.

Add job-specific items: tolls, loading help, special restraint equipment, permits where applicable, accommodation and site waiting. A quote that covers fuel alone can leave the business short of its other costs.

Count the drive to pickup, loaded distance, detours and the likely journey after delivery. If a return load is already confirmed, allocate the shared trip costs across the jobs once; if it is only a possibility, check whether the outbound quote still works without it.

Allow time for loading, unloading, waiting and required rest, not just driving. Confirm the load's weight, dimensions, access and restraint needs before committing to a price. If a critical detail is missing, ask the shipper rather than guessing.

Illustrative example only: the whole trip is 600 km. An assumed vehicle running cost of $0.75 per km, excluding driver time, is $450. Ten hours at a $40 per hour time target adds $400. Tolls and handling add $50, bringing the trip cost and time target to $900. A further $150 allowance for overhead and profit makes the target amount received $1,050.

That $1,050 is not automatically the price to enter on a marketplace. Check any commission and the wallet proceeds shown with the bid; adjust the offer until the amount you expect to receive meets your target. Use your own numbers and do not treat an unconfirmed backload as income.

GST treatment depends on your business registration. The ATO says businesses must register when they meet the GST turnover threshold, and may register voluntarily below it. Check your current status and make it clear whether GST applies to the quote.

On HaulMatch, driver quotes exclude GST and the current driver commission is deducted from an accepted quote. The bid screen shows your wallet proceeds before you submit. Review the current pricing page rather than relying on a fee copied into an older article.

State the price, proposed pickup and delivery window, vehicle and any loading or access assumptions. Ask about missing weights, dimensions, waiting arrangements or special handling in the job thread. A clear scope makes the offer easier to compare and reduces later surprises.

Keep a record of the estimate and the actual kilometres, hours and costs after the job. Comparing the two will improve your next quote more than copying someone else's headline rate.