Deadhead
What is deadhead? Deadhead is mileage a truck runs empty, between unloading one freight and picking up the next, generating cost without revenue.
Full definition
Deadhead miles are the most direct enemy of trucking profitability. Every empty mile burns fuel, depreciates the truck, and consumes HOS without producing a single dollar of revenue.
National deadhead averages run 10-20% depending on segment. Owner-operators chasing high RPM (revenue per mile) target single-digit deadhead by tightly stitching loads, picking lanes with strong backhaul markets, or accepting lower rates outbound to land in better return-load markets.
Load boards, dedicated lanes, and broker relationships all reduce deadhead. So does choosing where to live: drivers based in dense freight markets see less deadhead than those in low-volume regions.