Total billing per truck per working day, before expenses. If you're not sure, pick the closest range.
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Downtime Cost Calculator
Every day your truck sits, money burns. This calculator shows you exactly how much — so you can plan for the worst and make smarter insurance decisions.
Based on industry averages and real operating data. Your actual costs depend on your specific operation, routes, and contracts.
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This keeps going whether you're hauling or not. Include lease or loan payment.
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Your total commercial trucking insurance payment. This doesn't stop when the truck stops.
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ELD subscription, permits, parking, phone/data, accounting, trailer lease, etc. Things you pay whether you haul or not.
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Different events put trucks down for different lengths. Pick what you want to plan for.
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If you're paying a driver, that cost continues during downtime (or you lose them to another carrier).
The Hidden Costs Most Truckers Forget
When your truck goes down, the obvious loss is revenue. But there's a pile of costs that keep running — and a few that only show up because you're down.
Keeps Running
Truck Payment
Your lender doesn't care that the truck is in the shop. The payment is due whether it's hauling or sitting. Miss a payment and you risk repossession on top of everything else.
Keeps Running
Insurance Premium
Your insurance bill keeps coming. And if you cancel mid-policy to save money, you'll face steep penalties AND a coverage gap that makes your next policy even more expensive.
Keeps Running
Permits & Subscriptions
ELD service, IRP plates, IFTA, UCR, drug testing consortium, GPS tracking — all on monthly or annual billing that doesn't pause for repairs.
Hidden Cost
Lost Relationships
Regular shippers don't wait. If you can't cover your lanes for two weeks, they find someone else. Rebuilding those relationships takes months. Some never come back.
Hidden Cost
Towing & Storage
Towing a Class 8 truck runs $500-$2,000+ depending on distance. Storage at a truck shop: $50-$100/day while you wait for parts or an insurance decision.
Hidden Cost
Rental Truck
Renting a comparable truck costs $200-$500/day. Without rental reimbursement coverage, that's out of pocket. With it, your insurance pays while your truck is repaired.
Hidden Cost
Driver Retention
Good drivers won't wait around unpaid. If downtime stretches past a week, your driver starts looking. Replacing a qualified CDL driver costs $5,000-$10,000 in recruiting and training.
Hidden Cost
Credit Score Impact
If downtime causes you to miss truck payments, insurance payments, or vendor bills, your business credit takes a hit — raising your costs on everything going forward.
Insurance That Protects Your Revenue
The right coverage doesn't just fix your truck — it protects your income stream. Here's what actually helps during downtime.
Physical Damage Coverage
Pays to repair or replace your truck after an accident, theft, fire, or weather damage.
Why it matters: Without it, a $60,000 repair bill comes out of your pocket. With it, you pay your deductible ($1,000-$2,500 typically) and the carrier handles the rest.
Typical cost: $1,500 - $5,000/year depending on truck value
Rental Reimbursement / Downtime Coverage
Pays for a rental truck — or a daily stipend — while your truck is being repaired from a covered claim.
Why it matters: At $300/day for a rental, a 3-week repair costs $6,300 out of pocket. This coverage typically pays $100-$300/day for up to 30-60 days.
Typical cost: $200 - $600/year. One of the cheapest add-ons with the biggest payoff.
Towing & Recovery
Covers the cost of towing your disabled truck to a repair facility.
Why it matters: Heavy-duty towing runs $500-$2,000+ per incident. Most physical damage policies include this, but limits vary. Check yours.
Usually included with physical damage. Verify your limit covers at least $5,000.
Gap Coverage
If your truck is totaled, gap coverage pays the difference between what insurance pays (actual cash value) and what you still owe on your loan.
Why it matters: You owe $80,000 on a truck that's only worth $55,000. Without gap coverage, you're paying $25,000 on a truck you can't drive.
Typically built into the physical damage policy or a small endorsement fee.
Common Questions About Truck Downtime
How long does a typical truck repair take after an accident?
Minor body damage: 3-5 business days. Moderate collision damage: 1-3 weeks. Major structural damage: 4-8 weeks. Total loss settlement: 30-60 days from accident to replacement truck on the road. Parts shortages (especially for newer trucks) can add weeks to any repair.
Does my insurance cover lost income during repairs?
Standard auto liability and physical damage do NOT cover lost income. You need rental reimbursement or downtime coverage as a separate endorsement. Some policies offer a daily stipend ($100-$300/day) for a set number of days. This is one of the most overlooked — and most valuable — add-ons in commercial trucking insurance.
What if the accident wasn't my fault?
You can file against the other driver's insurance (subrogation), but that takes months. In the meantime, your truck is still down and your bills are still due. Having your own physical damage and rental reimbursement coverage means YOU get taken care of immediately — and your insurance company chases the other party's carrier later.
Should I skip physical damage on an older truck to save money?
Maybe — if you can afford to replace it out of pocket AND survive with no income during the replacement period. Run the numbers with this calculator: even an older truck's downtime costs more than most people expect. A $15,000 truck that takes 3 weeks to replace can easily cost $15,000-$20,000 in lost revenue and fixed costs on top of the replacement cost.
How much does rental reimbursement coverage cost?
Typically $200-$600 per year — making it one of the best deals in trucking insurance. For comparison, renting a comparable truck for even ONE WEEK costs $1,400-$3,500. The coverage basically pays for itself the first time you need it.