How much does an owner-operator make per week?
Depends on four numbers, not on the headline percentage: loaded miles, the all-in rate per mile, what the carrier deducts, and what your truck costs you. Here is the arithmetic for a dry van owner-operator on a percentage lease in 2026, with nothing hidden between the lines.
Gross $6,500–$9,000; take-home $3,500–$5,000 before the truck
On a percentage lease at 86% of gross, a solo dry van owner-operator running 2,300 regional miles at $2.90 grosses about $6,700 and nets roughly $3,700 after the carrier's fixed deductions and fuel. Running OTR at 3,000 miles and $2.70 grosses about $8,100 and nets roughly $4,300–$4,400 per week on the road. Truck payment, maintenance, tires, insurance on your own tractor and taxes come out of that, so a $1,200-a-month truck payment and $800 a month of maintenance take another $450–$500 a week.
| Line | Regional week | OTR week (on the road) | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaded miles | 2,315 | 2,945 | Trip planner, example loop from Columbus, OH |
| All-in rate | $2.90 / mi | $2.70 / mi | Linehaul + fuel surcharge, typical dry van, fall 2026 |
| Gross | $6,714 | $7,952 | Miles × rate |
| Your 86% | $5,774 | $6,839 | Carrier keeps 14% |
| Fixed deductions | −$650 | −$650 | Insurance $350 · trailer $200 · admin $100 |
| Fuel | −$1,453 | −$1,849 | Miles × 1.06 deadhead ÷ 6.5 mpg × $3.85 |
| Net deposit | $3,671 | $4,340 | Before truck payment, maintenance, taxes |
| Weeks 1–10 (escrow −$250) | $3,421 | $4,090 | $2,500 cap, returned within 45 days of leaving |
| Own trailer | +$200 | +$200 | No trailer rental |
Example weeks built by the LoadMo trip planner from city-to-city distances at hours-of-service pace. Rates are market-typical, not guaranteed; a week with detention or layover pays more because accessorials pass through at 100%.
The four levers, in order of size
1. Rate per mile. Ten cents a mile on 2,500 miles is $250 a week, or $12,000 a year. That is why seeing the rate confirmation before you accept matters more than the percentage. A carrier that shows you 86% of a $2.60 load pays less than one that shows you 82% of a $2.85 load.
2. Fuel. The biggest cost you control. Every 0.5 mpg on 2,500 miles is about $150 a week. A fuel card with no markup and the ability to choose where you fill up is worth more than a “fuel discount” that quietly nets to zero.
3. Deductions. $650 a week is $33,800 a year. Ask any carrier for the full list in writing before you sign: insurance, trailer, admin, ELD, plates, “occupational” add-ons, escrow. If the list is not written down, the number is not real.
4. Miles you can actually run. Regional at 2,000–2,600 with weekends home, or OTR at 2,800–3,400 with a 34-hour reset every six driving days. More miles is more gross but not always more net once you count the days away and the wear on the truck.
What that is per year
Regional at $3,700 a week net, 48 working weeks: about $178,000 before the truck and taxes. OTR at $4,350 a week on the road, roughly 40 weeks on the road after home time: about $174,000. The two programs land close; the difference is lifestyle, not money.
Subtract a realistic truck: $14,000 a year in payments, $10,000 in maintenance and tires, $4,000 in physical damage insurance, and you are at $145,000–$150,000 before income tax. That is the honest range for a solo dry van owner-operator on a percentage lease with a fair carrier in 2026. Anyone quoting “$250,000 a year” is quoting gross, not what you keep.
Straight answers
How much does an owner-operator make per week after expenses?
On a percentage lease at 86% of gross, a solo dry van owner-operator typically nets $3,500–$5,000 a week after the carrier's deductions and fuel — before their own truck payment, maintenance and taxes. A 2,300-mile regional week at $2.90/mi nets about $3,700; a 3,000-mile OTR week at $2.70/mi nets about $4,300–$4,400. Subtracting a typical truck payment and maintenance leaves roughly $145,000–$150,000 a year before income tax.
What is a good rate per mile for a dry van owner-operator in 2026?
All-in (linehaul plus fuel surcharge), $2.70–$3.00 a mile is typical for dry van in fall 2026, with regional short-haul lanes at the higher end and long OTR lanes at the lower end. What matters as much as the number is whether you see the rate confirmation before you accept the load and whether the fuel surcharge is passed through to you.
Is 86% of gross a good split for an owner-operator?
86% of linehaul plus fuel surcharge, with accessorials passed through at 100% and fixed deductions listed in writing, is at the strong end of what dry van lease-on programs offer. Most percentage programs pay 70–90%; the ones above 86% usually apply the percentage to linehaul only, keep part of the fuel surcharge, or add fees. Compare the Friday deposit on the same load, not the percentage.
How much do owner-operators spend on fuel per week?
At 6.5 mpg and $3.85 diesel, about $0.63 per loaded mile including typical deadhead — roughly $1,450 for a 2,300-mile regional week and $1,850 for a 2,950-mile OTR week. Fuel is the largest cost the operator controls; a half mile per gallon is worth about $150 a week.
Do owner-operators get paid weekly?
At LoadMo, yes — every Friday by direct deposit for every load with proof of delivery that week, regardless of whether the broker has paid. Same-day quick pay on POD is available for a 5% fee. Some carriers pay only after the customer pays, which can mean 30–45 days; ask before you sign.
What deductions do carriers take from owner-operator settlements?
Typical lease-on deductions are cargo and liability insurance, trailer rental if you use the carrier's trailer, an administrative or dispatch fee, and an escrow contribution. LoadMo's are $350, $200 (optional), $100 and $250 for the first ten weeks — $650 fixed, $900 during escrow. Watch for ELD fees, plate fees, 'occupational' insurance add-ons and percentage-based dispatch fees, which can add $200–$500 a week elsewhere.
Run it through the planner
Pick your home region and program. The planner shows loaded miles, gross, the 86%, every deduction, escrow and fuel — the same arithmetic as a settlement.
Three questions. Tina calls the same day.
No SSN on the form, no fee, nothing to sign until you have read the lease.