Deadhead Miles
Deadhead miles are the miles a truck drives empty without any freight, generating zero revenue while still costing fuel and wear.
What Is Deadhead Miles?
Deadhead miles (also called "dead miles" or "empty miles") are any miles your truck travels without a load. These are pure cost — you are burning fuel, adding wear to your truck, and using up your available Hours of Service, all without earning a dollar. The industry average deadhead percentage is about 15-20% of total miles, but poorly planned routes can push this much higher.
At current diesel prices (approximately $3.50-$4.00/gallon) and an average fuel consumption of 6 miles per gallon, every deadhead mile costs roughly $0.58-$0.67 in fuel alone. Add in maintenance, tire wear, and opportunity cost, and the true cost of a deadhead mile is closer to $1.00-$1.50. If you deadhead 200 miles to pick up a load, that is $200-$300 out of your pocket before you earn anything.
The key to profitability is minimizing deadhead through smart route planning and load matching. This means finding backhaul loads near your delivery point, negotiating pickup locations that reduce empty miles, and sometimes accepting a slightly lower-paying load that is nearby rather than deadheading 300 miles to a higher-paying one.
Why It Matters
Every deadhead mile is money out of your pocket. Reducing your deadhead from 20% to 10% on 10,000 miles per month saves $1,000-$1,500/month in direct costs. Smart load planning that minimizes empty miles is one of the biggest factors separating profitable owner-operators from those who struggle.
Real-World Example
Tony delivers a load in El Paso and has two options. Option A pays $3.00/mile for 700 miles to Phoenix but requires 250 deadhead miles to the pickup. Option B pays $2.70/mile for 650 miles to Houston with only 30 deadhead miles. Option A net: $2,100 minus $250 deadhead = $1,850. Option B net: $1,755 minus $30 deadhead = $1,725. But Option B positions Tony in Houston, a major freight hub, making his next load easier to find. His FF Dispatch dispatcher recommends Option B.
How FF Dispatch Handles This
FF Dispatch plans your loads to minimize deadhead miles. We book backhauls near your delivery point and consider your full weekly route. Our carriers average 8-12% deadhead versus the industry average of 15-20%, saving hundreds per week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good deadhead percentage?+
Should I accept a lower rate to avoid deadhead?+
Do deadhead miles count toward HOS?+
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