Realizing deadhead miles can be vital when looking for the right load if you are a new driver or have recently received control as an owner-operator. Loaded miles mean earned money in trucking. The more cargo you transport, the more money you earn. However, driving empty or deadhead trucking costs money, even if only to scoop up your next load. You don’t want to be a deadhead trucker cruising deadhead miles.
Deadhead miles are when a truck drives with no cargo, whether en route to pick up or drop off a load. Deadhead miles are unavoidable in trucking. Because the loads are not arriving to you, there will be deadhead miles on your journey. The tactic here is to plan carefully so that you travel a few miles as possible with no cargo and thus minimize your costs.
Why is it Called Deadheading?
Driving empty miles is called deadheading. It is because empty miles for a truck driver indicate that they are operating their hardware without vigorously getting paid for it or taking advantage of the opportunity to move cargo at the time. Adding wear and tear, devaluation of their equipment, and the cost of fuel and tires just to return home empty is a wasted chance for additional revenue. Their wheels turn, but they aren’t getting paid for that time and mileage. It’s bad for the economy because of the long-term consequences.
A deadhead truckload not only makes the trucks suffer from wear and tear but also puts a strain on the roads on which they commute. Road repairs are both time and money-consuming, and failing infrastructure is a can that has been decided to kick down the road.
What Factors Influence Deadhaul Miles?
Deadhead miles trucking occurs when complicated routing occurs, resulting in an increased lack of efficiency and disparities in shipment flow. When shipping facilities are dispersed or otherwise operating at subpar levels, there is an imbalance in shipment flow. This makes matching large outgoing load demands with incoming shipments difficult.
Air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion are all caused by empty loads and excessive idle time. Larger fleets have a larger working capital reserve to invest in route optimization technology, whereas smaller carriers may lack visibility to generate efficient routes to avoid waste. However, it is not hopeless.
What are the Economic Impacts of Headhead Miles on Business?
Remember that you must spend money in order to make money. Truckers spend the majority of their money on deadhead miles. However, deadhead miles can charge more than just money. The following are the costs of driving deadhead on businesses:
- Fuel Costs
If you are an owner-operator or a freelancer, you may not be reimbursed for miles driven without a load, or you may only be compensated for a portion of the fuel cost per mile. This is due to the fact that transportation companies are not obligated to pay for deadhead miles. That’s money out of your pocket. However, as a company driver, you are usually compensated for deadhead miles.
- Equipment Maintenance Cost
This one is self-evident. When you drive your truck, it is subjected to road and weather wear and tear. When you drive empty, you have no income to offset the cost of truck damage.
- Safety Concerns
Driving with an empty truck is dangerous. When considering driving your vehicle without a load, that fact may not immediately come to mind. However, empty trailers measure half as much as full trailers. When driving an empty trailer in a high-wind area, you risk having your trailer sway and become hard to control or flip over. Both scenarios are risky. Before driving with an empty trailer, always check the weather and wind conditions.
- Reduced Efficiency
Isn’t time money? Well, if you drive deadhead, you are wasting time rather than earning money. As much as possible, you want to avoid driving without a load.
Why is Calculating Deadhead Miles Crucial?
Calculating deadhead miles is crucial. This is because truck deadheading raises the risk of a rollover. If the driver is not cautious, high winds can cause an empty truck trailer to flip. Move away from a truck trailer that is swaying between lanes. Either a truck is deadheading back or the load is not very bulky. Lightweight truck trailers are harder to control, particularly in wind, rain, or snow.
Deadheading truckers face a variety of road hazards. Drivers must exercise extreme caution due to conditions such as black ice and high winds. A deadhead vehicle may weigh half as much as when it is fully loaded, making it more vulnerable to weather threats. Are you wondering how to calculate the deadhead mileage rate? This is how:
You must know two things: (1) your operating costs for a specific time period (month, calendar quarter, or year) and (2) the miles driven during that time period.
If your quarterly operating expenses are $25,205 and you drive 22,194 miles in that quarter, your cost per mile is $1.14.
These figures can be found in your monthly or quarterly accounting records. Why is it critical to understand your cost-per-mile factor? Because it allows you to quickly decide a load’s profitability.
How to Strategize Deadhead Trucking?
The negative impact of “empty miles” on both drivers and carriers is a common complaint in the trucking industry. When a truck travels without a loaded trailer or shipping container, the resulting fuel emissions are effectively wasted. Despite its inefficiency, it is frequently a necessary element of the container process.
There are now technological solutions on the market that aim to break down that efficiency bottleneck. Fleet owners can use digital storefronts or app-based mobile services to connect empty containers at warehouses with companies that need containers for exports. As a result, the container can be forwarded to a nearby warehouse, loaded with goods for export, and returned to the port fully loaded. Fleet operators can improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary carbon emissions by using technology to facilitate these transactions, also known as “street turns.”
Today, software solutions exist to overcome a wide range of sustainability hurdles. From reducing empty miles and utilizing capacity data to tracking individual containers and optimizing drivers’ day-to-day schedule planning. Fleet management solutions such as LocoNav offer functionalities such as route planning that can significantly reduce the number of deadhead miles. Simply put, a human dispatcher may not be able to optimize these processes as quickly, accurately, or as insightfully as a computer algorithm.
FAQ
How deadhead is different from bobtail?
A bobtail is a truck tractor that does not have a trailer attached to it. This usually happens after a trucker falls into a trailer at one location and then heads to another location to pick up another trailer. Deadheading occurs after a trucker has unloaded his cargo and is now pulling an empty connected trailer.
How much are truckers paid for deadheading?
Some trucking businesses pay for deadheading, while others do not. While you may still be compensated for your time, it is usually a fraction of what you would earn if you were hauling cargo.
Do truckers who deadhead run any risks?
Driving with an empty truck is dangerous. When considering driving your vehicle without a load, that fact may not immediately come to mind. However, empty trailers measure half as much as full trailers. When driving an empty trailer in a high-wind area, you risk having your trailer sway and become hard to control or flip over. Both scenarios are risky. Before driving with an empty trailer, always check the weather and wind conditions.
What role does load board play in reducing deadhead miles?
Load boards are online job boards that link shippers and carriers. Truck drivers can find available shipping costs along their routes. They can, for example, find loads in other locations if they want to travel south for warmer weather. By planning your trips ahead of time, you can avoid empty miles.