Free tool, inputs only
Cost of one bad broker calculator
One load that never pays costs more than the invoice you did not collect. You also paid fuel and the driver, you carried the money, and you spent hours chasing it. Enter your own numbers; the tool shows the cash loss and how many good loads you need to cover it.
What one bad load costs
Money is rounded to cents on each line; totals add the rounded lines.
Cash loss on this load
enter numbers
- Loss as share of invoice
- Loss across all loads outstanding
- Recovered, net of fee
- Carrying cost
- Cost of chasing it (time)
- Out of pocket if nothing is recovered
- Good loads needed to make it back
Formula: loss = cost to run + legal + time (hours x rate) + carrying cost (invoice x rate x days / 365) - (recovered - collection fee). Good loads needed = loss / margin per good load, rounded up. The example numbers are invented placeholders. Replace them with yours.
How to use the result
- If the loss is more than a few good loads of margin, a credit check before the haul is cheaper than any collection.
- The carrying cost grows with days. Compare it with a factor's fee before you wait out a slow payer; see factoring cost and broker payment delay.
- Screen the next broker first with the red-flag checker.
This calculator uses only your inputs and arithmetic. It does not look up any broker and says nothing about a particular company.
Related: broker not paying guide, short pay and chargebacks.
See what your last 20 loads show.
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