Transportation, Freight & Distribution worked example

Last-Mile Delivery Cost at 99% completed stop share: a worked example

This scenario runs the last-mile delivery cost calculation on the strong side: 99% completed stop share, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it for local delivery, field service parts, retail replenishment, and customer-specific cost-to-serve reviews.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Delivery stops on route: 180 stops (unchanged)
  • Variable cost per stop: 16.5 $ / stop (unchanged)
  • Completed stop share (first-attempt success): 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 94)
  • Fixed route and service cost: 240 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Variable last-mile delivery cost = delivery stops × cost per stop × completed stop share) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3,180 $ for total last-mile delivery cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 17.67 $ / unit for last-mile cost per stop.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,940 $ for variable last-mile delivery cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 240 $ for fixed charges.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where completed stop share sits at 94% and the headline result is 3,032 $, this scenario comes in 4.9% above the baseline at 3,180 $.
  • Use it when pricing delivery, comparing courier bids, or testing how route density and first-attempt success change unit economics. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total last-mile delivery cost: 3,180 $ (headline result)
  • Last-mile cost per stop: 17.67 $ / unit
  • Variable last-mile delivery cost: 2,940 $
  • Fixed charges: 240 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Last-Mile Delivery Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.