Deadhead Percentage Calculation Guide

Deadhead percentage measures the portion of total miles driven without a revenue-generating load. For owner-operators and fleet managers, this metric is critical because every non-revenue mile incurs fixed and variable costs—such as fuel at $3.80 per gallon or tire wear at $0.05 per mile—without offsetting income. According to the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI), deadhead mileage typically accounts for 15% to 25% of total annual miles for most long-haul sectors. Reducing this figure by even 5% can significantly increase a carrier's net profit margin by lowering the average cost per mile.

The Deadhead Percentage Formula

To calculate your deadhead percentage, divide your total empty miles by your total miles driven (loaded miles plus empty miles), then multiply by 100. The formula is: (Empty Miles / Total Miles) x 100 = Deadhead Percentage. For example, if a truck travels 2,400 total miles in a week and 480 of those miles were driven without a trailer or with an empty trailer, the calculation is (480 / 2,400) x 100, resulting in a 20% deadhead rate. Accurate logging via Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) is essential to ensure that 'Personal Conveyance' or 'Off-Duty' miles do not skew the operational data used for this calculation.

Worked Example: Regional Dry Van Route

Consider a regional dry van operator based in Columbus, OH. The driver hauls a load 450 miles to Charlotte, NC. After delivery, the driver moves 75 miles to Spartanburg, SC, to pick up the next load. The return trip to Columbus is 460 miles. The total miles for this loop are 985 (450 + 75 + 460). The deadhead portion is the 75-mile segment between Charlotte and Spartanburg. Using the formula (75 / 985) x 100, the deadhead percentage for this trip is 7.6%. This is considered highly efficient, as regional averages often hover near 12% to 18% depending on freight density in the Southeast corridor.

The Real Cost of Empty Miles

Deadhead miles are not free; they carry the same operational overhead as loaded miles. According to 2023 ATRI data, the average marginal cost to operate a truck is $2.25 per mile. If a carrier has a 20% deadhead rate on a 100,000-mile year, they are spending $45,000 annually on non-revenue movement. This includes approximately $0.60 to $0.70 per mile for fuel and $0.15 per mile for maintenance. Using DispatchTool to identify backhauls within a 50-mile radius of a drop-off location can help carriers lower this percentage and recover these otherwise lost operational expenses.

Impact on True Revenue Per Mile

Deadhead percentage directly alters your 'True Revenue Per Mile' (RPM). If a broker pays $3.00 per mile for a 500-mile loaded trip ($1,500 total), but you had to drive 100 miles to reach the pickup, your total miles are 600. Your deadhead percentage is 16.6%. While the load rate looks high at $3.00, your True RPM is $1,500 divided by 600 miles, which equals $2.50. Failing to account for deadhead often leads owner-operators to accept loads that appear profitable on paper but actually fall below their $2.10 per mile break-even point once all movement is calculated.

Benchmarks by Equipment Type

Acceptable deadhead percentages vary by equipment type and market conditions. Dry van carriers typically aim for 12% to 15%. Refrigerated (reefer) units often see higher rates, between 18% and 22%, due to specialized cleaning requirements and one-way food logistics. Flatbed operations often experience the highest deadhead, sometimes reaching 25% or more, because equipment must be repositioned to specific industrial hubs or construction sites. The DAT Freight Index shows that in tight markets, these percentages decrease as shippers are more willing to pay for repositioning, whereas in soft markets, carriers must often eat more empty miles to stay moving.

Common Data Inputs People Get Wrong

Many dispatchers incorrectly calculate deadhead by only counting miles between different loads. They often forget to include 'deadhead to home' at the end of a shift or the 'bobtail' miles from a yard to a shipper. If a driver drops a trailer at a warehouse and drives 40 miles to a truck stop, those 40 miles must be included in the deadhead calculation to maintain an accurate Cost Per Mile (CPM). Furthermore, failing to distinguish between 'billable' deadhead (where a shipper pays a flat fee for repositioning) and 'non-billable' deadhead can lead to errors in calculating the actual net profit of a specific lane.

Sources

ATRI - An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking (2023) — https://truckingresearch.org/ FMCSA - Recordkeeping Requirements (2024) — https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/395.8 EIA - Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (2025) — https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ DAT Freight & Analytics - Market Insights (2024) — https://www.dat.com/trendlines

Frequently asked

What is a good deadhead percentage for an owner-operator?

Most industry experts suggest maintaining a deadhead percentage below 15%. According to ATRI, the average across all sectors is roughly 20%, but staying below 15% ensures that you are not losing a disproportionate amount of your gross revenue to fuel and maintenance costs.

Does deadhead include bobtailing?

Yes. Any mile driven where the truck is not earning revenue is considered deadhead, whether you are pulling an empty trailer or driving just the tractor (bobtailing). All these miles must be included in your 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax calculations and IFTA reporting.

How does deadhead affect IFTA reporting?

IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) requires you to report all miles driven, regardless of whether they are loaded or empty. Because deadhead miles still consume fuel (often at a slightly better rate of 7.5 to 8.5 MPG compared to 6.0 MPG loaded), they impact your total tax liability for each jurisdiction you transition through.

Can I charge a shipper for deadhead miles?

While most spot market rates are 'all-in,' you can negotiate a 'repositioning fee' or a higher rate per mile if the pickup location is in a dead zone. For example, if you must deadhead 150 miles to a rural location, savvy carriers will add a surcharge of $1.50 to $2.00 per deadhead mile to the base rate.

How do I find my total miles for the year?

You should pull this data from your ELD (Electronic Logging Device) or your odometer records. The FMCSA requires accurate record-keeping for HOS (Hours of Service), and these same distance records are the most reliable source for your annual deadhead percentage calculation.