Empty Miles (Deadhead)

Sustainability & Digitalization

Empty Miles (Deadhead)

Empty miles are distances travelled without cargo (e.g., a truck returning after delivery). They waste fuel, driver time, and capacity, and inflate both cost and emissions with no value delivered.

Why It Matters

Reducing deadhead through backhaul matching, consolidation, and smarter routing lowers spend and CO₂. In a hybrid setup, orchestrating contracted, pre-negotiated spot and on-demand capacity helps fill return legs and smooth imbalances between lanes.

Related Terms & Resources

This term connects most directly to:

  • Backhaul — an unplanned backhaul is one of the most common sources of empty miles.
  • Load Factor / Truck Utilization — empty miles are the clearest sign of poor utilization.
  • CO₂ per ton-km — empty miles waste fuel and inflate emissions per ton-km with nothing to show for it.

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