TraxQSee What Empty Miles Really Cost
Measure deadhead percentage and the revenue those empty miles quietly take off the load.
How to use the Deadhead Miles calculator
Deadhead is the cost that never appears on a rate confirmation — same fuel, same driver, nothing hauled. Enter loaded and empty miles honestly and compare what the load pays against what the whole run costs; revenue per total mile is the honest measure. Under 10 percent is strong, over 20 points at a structural problem rather than bad luck. The counterintuitive part is that zero deadhead is the wrong goal: fixed costs accrue whether you move or not, so a short empty run to a paying load almost always beats sitting still waiting for a perfect one.
Deadhead Miles Calculator Questions
The things carriers ask most about this calculation.
What is deadhead in trucking?
Any mile run with an empty trailer — typically driving to a pickup or heading home after a delivery. The truck burns fuel, accrues maintenance, and pays a driver, but nothing is being hauled.
What is a good deadhead percentage?
Under 10 percent is strong and under 15 is the usual target, but ATRI measured the industry actually running about 16.5 percent empty, nearly one mile in six. Consistently above 20 percent usually points to a lane imbalance or booking too far from where you unload.
How do I reduce deadhead miles?
Book the next load before the current one delivers, favour lanes with reliable backhauls, and widen your radius slightly rather than waiting on a perfect load. Sitting still costs money too — a short deadhead to a paying load usually beats waiting a day.
Should deadhead be billed to the customer?
Rarely as a line item. It is normally priced into the linehaul, which is why revenue per total mile is the honest measure of whether a load worked.
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