Equipment Rate Calc

Mobilization Fee Calculator

Estimate a mobilization fee for compact equipment using round-trip miles, loading time, drive time, truck and trailer cost, tolls, and margin. Results update automatically as inputs change.

Inputs

Job assumptions

Use round-trip distance and include loading, waiting, unloading, and return time.

Use round-trip distance and include loading, waiting, unloading, and return time.

Use realistic paid or billable time and keep the unit consistent.

Use realistic paid or billable time and keep the unit consistent.

Use the current loaded business cost, not a rough market guess.

Operating cost

Use the current loaded business cost, not a rough market guess.

Profit & protection

Margin is profit divided by the final selling price, not a markup on cost.

Calculations stay in this browser unless you explicitly save or share.

Recommended Fee0

How this calculator works

Mobilization fee = labor time cost + mileage cost + truck/trailer hourly cost + tolls, then divide by (1 - target margin).

Read the methodology and editorial policy

Use the result as a cost checkpoint

Use this calculator to stop giving away the truck, trailer, loading, unloading, drive time, permits, and scheduling cost that happen before the machine starts working.

This tool is best for pricing delivery, loading, drive time, and setup. Its primary decision is what to charge before machine work starts so travel and loading do not erase margin. Review long driveways, traffic, heavy attachments, multiple trips, tolls, permits, and short jobs where mobilization is most of the work before relying on the result.

Worked example

A 35-mile round trip with 1.5 total hours, $65/hour truck and labor cost, and 25% margin can justify a fee around $193.

Raise mobilization for tight loading, heavy attachments, permits, multiple trips, tolls, or short-notice scheduling.

Input and quote review

  • Use round-trip miles, not one-way miles.
  • Count loading, chaining, unloading, and paperwork time.
  • Separate mobilization from machine work on small jobs.
  • Build a local minimum fee for nearby work.

Keep the final scope, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, change triggers, and post-job results with the estimate so future defaults are supported by evidence.

Common questions

Is this the final customer price?

No. It is a planning checkpoint. Walk the site, confirm scope and access, verify current costs, and apply contract, permit, tax, utility, safety, and professional requirements.

Where are saved inputs stored?

Only an explicit Save stores inputs in this browser's localStorage. Share places inputs in the URL hash. The calculator does not send them to Equipment Rate Calc.

Should I copy a competitor's rate?

Use market prices as a reasonableness check after calculating your own cost, scope, utilization, risk, and margin.

Important disclaimerPlanning estimate only. Verify current costs, measurements, production, scope, access, customer requirements, contracts, permits, insurance, taxes, and local rules before quoting or committing money.