Deadhead Miles

Miles a truck drives empty between loads, with no revenue earned.

Deadhead miles (also called bobtail or empty miles) are distances a tractor-trailer travels without freight in the trailer. Carriers track deadhead percentage to evaluate routing efficiency and lane profitability. Industry average ranges from 10% to 20%; under 10% is considered excellent.

How it is calculated

Deadhead % = (Empty Miles / Total Miles) × 100

Example

A truck drives 200 empty miles to pick up a load and 800 loaded miles to deliver it. Deadhead % = 200 / 1000 = 20%.