Trucking companies aim to schedule as many productive miles as possible on their routes. Logistics coordinators, dispatchers, drivers, and shippers all play a role in making sure the fleet is carrying freight for most of the miles traveled.

Despite everyone’s best efforts, it’s not possible to ensure a truck is always carrying cargo. Industry insiders refer to these freight-free miles as “deadhead miles”. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of deadhead miles, their environmental, financial, and operational impact, and how drivers can minimize the number of deadhead miles they drive.

Defining Deadhead Miles

Deadhead miles are the miles a semi tractor travels with an empty trailer attached. (This is different from bobtailing, which happens when a tractor drives without an attached trailer.) These situations arise when a truck unloads freight at one location and travels to the next destination without unhooking its trailer.

Deadhead miles are sometimes unavoidable, depending on freight demand, location, and scheduling. Even though they’re occasionally hard to avoid, the goal is to minimize the number of deadhead miles on a truck because they’re unprofitable. Driving an empty trailer strains a driver’s resources without any compensation to balance out the deficit.

How Trucking Costs Are Affected by Deadhead Miles

Fuel costs are a major consideration for truck drivers because they often fluctuate, and companies must maximize fuel usage to ensure profitability. Semi trucks require substantial amounts of fuel, even when idling in traffic or sitting at a truck stop with the heater or AC running. Drivers are encouraged to reduce idling and maximize travel time because fuel usage adds up fast and can negatively impact the company’s or driver’s operational costs.

Drivers must also consider the extra wear and tear that deadhead miles put on their trucks. Every mile further deteriorates brakes, tires, and other critical truck parts. Although trucks need to be regularly serviced and maintained, racking up deadhead miles pushes the vehicle closer to being out of commission. If the miles you’re driving aren’t earning money, truck repair and maintenance costs can’t be offset by money brought in from paying routes.

Beyond fuel and maintenance, there are operational costs to consider. Industry research indicates that over 16% of all non-tank operations were deadhead mileage in 2023, and all of those miles come at an expense that isn’t made up through generating revenue. Driver wages, insurance, and other administrative costs add up with each trip, making it harder to run a cost effective operation with deadhead miles in the equation.

There’s also the cost of safety. Semi trucks are already challenging to control in severe weather; empty trailers heighten the level of difficulty. High winds make the truck more susceptible to weaving or tipping, and if the weather is bad enough, drivers may even reroute to avoid bridges or travel less busy roadways. This is smart for maintaining safety, but it does also contribute to fuel usage, mileage, and wear and tear.

The Environmental Impact of Deadhead Miles

Sustainability and environmental impact matter to a growing number of trucking companies. The industry is making strides toward lowering emissions with individual carriers doing their part to reduce their fleet’s environmental impact.

Companies committed to exceeding environmental and sustainability standards may track fuel efficiency and mileage costs to help them streamline usage and improve future costs. Deadhead miles run counter to these efforts because they present an environmental cost along with a financial one. Hauling empty trailers uses fuel, which:

• Emits additional pollutants into the environment
• Contributes to a company’s carbon footprint
• Reduces a company’s overall fuel efficiency

By reducing deadhead miles, carriers are better positioned to meet their own organizational goals and comply with increasingly stringent and widespread government regulations.

How Deadhead Miles Affect Freight Rates

Some amount of deadhead mileage is inevitable, so companies will sometimes factor in that cost when setting freight rates. Companies attempt to make up for the potential lost revenue by charging more per mile for freight delivery. This method isn’t ideal in the long run, though, because raising prices is hard to justify when you’re trying to remain competitive among other carriers, even if profitability is on the line.

Minimizing deadhead miles presents benefits across the industry because:

1. Companies can offer more competitive rates while remaining cost efficient (and hopefully profitable).
2. Shippers can afford to work with their preferred carriers and continue to build rapport with trusted carriers and brokers.
3. Drivers earn more for their work without as much risk of financial instability.

It’s worth noting that some carriers pay drivers for some of their deadhead miles (with payment typically starting after 100 miles), depending on how far they’re traveling. While this tactic incentivizes some drivers, it does come at the cost of potentially raising freight rates to cover deadhead pay.

Strategies To Minimize Deadhead Miles

Technology has made it easier for companies of all sizes to reduce deadhead miles and ensure they’re getting the most out of every route. Even without tech solutions, carriers and drivers can still find ways to minimize traveling with empty trailers. Here are a few strategies to try:

Load matching technology

Freight matching platforms help carriers and shippers connect based on specified requirements. These platforms rely on technology to efficiently locate nearby loads and match the shipment to the nearest qualifying carrier, reducing deadhead miles and optimizing resources. Some platforms are equipped to match loads with trucks in real-time for even greater delivery efficiency.

Strategic route planning

Logistics planners use industry relationships and tech solutions to strategically plan routes that maximize productivity and reduce deadhead miles. Coordinators must have a strong working knowledge of driver and equipment availability and cargo requirements to plan the most efficient and cost-effective routes.

Supplementing this knowledge with digital solutions leads to even greater efficiency, especially when using routing software that analyzes traffic patterns, fuel costs, and weather conditions for optimal planning. Some platforms even identify routes that have reload opportunities so drivers can make even better use of their driving time.

Establish mutually beneficial industry relationships

Everybody wants what’s best for their companies and teams, so working together helps to ensure everyone gets the support they need. Carriers can work with shippers to offer reduced rates for guaranteed return loads, for example. Carriers can also consult with trusted brokers to find backhaul opportunities or routes with minimal deadhead miles. Establishing clear expectations helps each party enter into agreements that are truly mutually beneficial.

Drivers at Pride Transport can be sure that they’ll get the miles they need with the pay they deserve. That’s because at Pride, we treat our drivers and the rest of our team like family. Ready to learn more about driving opportunities? Check out our job board today!