In plain English
Gross margin pays rent, fuel, wages, insurance, interest and you. What remains after that is net profit.
In resale, gross margin swings by channel and by grade. Track it per load and per channel, not just as one company-wide number.
Example
Revenue $18,000, COGS $10,800 → gross profit $7,200 → gross margin 40%.
Why it matters
It is the fastest test of whether your buying and pricing actually work.
COMMON MISTAKEComparing gross margin across months without noticing the mix changed.