What Is Deadhead in Trucking?
Also called: Deadhead Miles, Deadheading
Deadhead miles are the miles a truck drives empty, with no paying freight on board, most often between one load and the next. They cost fuel, time and wear, but earn nothing. Driving empty also uses your driving hours. ATRI's 2026 report says deadhead mileage stayed elevated in 2025. Count deadhead miles when you figure what a load really pays.
Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Facts checked October 15, 2026
Key Points
- Deadhead = miles driven with an empty trailer or no freight. They are not loaded miles
- Most often it happens between drop-off and the next pickup, or when repositioning to a better freight market
- Deadhead percentage = deadhead miles ÷ total miles for a period. Many dispatchers aim for under 10-15% for an OTR truck. That is a rule of thumb, not a standard
- Fuel, tolls, time and wear still apply on deadhead miles, but no freight revenue does
- Driving empty counts as driving time. It uses your 11-hour driving limit and your 14-hour window (49 CFR §395.3)
- ATRI's 2026 report says deadhead mileage remained elevated in 2025, during a long freight downturn
- A dispatcher's routing skill shows up directly in a truck's deadhead percentage over time
Where does the term "deadhead" come from?
"Deadhead" is older than trucking. It first described a train or bus running without passengers or freight. In trucking it means the same idea. The truck (and driver) are moving, but nothing paying is on board. A "bobtail" is a related but different idea. It means a tractor running with no trailer attached at all. Deadhead usually means running with an empty trailer.
Why is deadhead unavoidable, and how is it managed?
Some deadhead is built in. Freight doesn't always flow evenly in both directions on a lane. So a truck that runs a hot outbound lane may have to reposition empty to find the next load. What separates a well-run operation from a poorly run one is how much deadhead is planned out. The rest happens because a load wasn't lined up before the last one delivered. A dispatcher who is already working the next pickup while the current load is still en route is directly cutting deadhead.
How does deadhead affect your real rate per mile?
A load's posted rate divided by its loaded miles isn't your real earning rate if you had to deadhead to get to it. The number that matters is total revenue divided by total miles driven for the trip, loaded and empty combined. Example: a $2.50 loaded rate on a 500-mile load pays $1,250. If it took 150 deadhead miles to reach it, the trip is 650 miles. The all-in rate is $1,250 ÷ 650 = $1.92 a mile, below $2.00. That is why serious rate comparisons count deadhead, not just the posted rate.
Does deadhead count against my hours of service?
Yes. Deadhead is driving time. Under 49 CFR §395.3 you may drive a total of 11 hours, and only within 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty. Empty miles use that time just like loaded miles do. So a long deadhead to a pickup leaves you fewer hours to haul the load. This is one more reason to count empty miles when you price a load.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is deadhead in trucking?+
Deadhead is the distance a truck drives with no freight loaded. It is usually the drive between delivering one load and picking up the next. It's the opposite of a "loaded mile." The truck still burns fuel and uses hours of the driver's day, but it earns no freight revenue.
Do truckers get paid for deadhead miles?+
It depends on the pay setup. Company drivers paid strictly by loaded mile often get nothing extra for deadhead. Many carriers pay a lower per-mile rate for it. Owner-operators who negotiate their own rates should build deadhead into the total price they quote for a load. It's a real cost even though the broker or shipper isn't paying to move it.
How do you figure deadhead percentage?+
Divide deadhead miles by total miles. For example, 100 empty miles in a 600-mile trip is 100 ÷ 600, or about 16.7%. Track it over weeks, not one load, because one trip can be unusual. A rising percentage often means loads are not being lined up far enough ahead.
What's a good deadhead percentage for an owner-operator?+
Many dispatchers aim for roughly 10-15% or lower. That is a rule of thumb, not an official standard. A higher number can mean the lanes you run have poor reload options, or that loads are not lined up in advance. Compare your own trend over time.
Does deadhead count as driving time?+
Yes. Driving empty is driving time. It uses your 11-hour driving limit and your 14-hour window under 49 CFR §395.3, just like loaded miles. A long deadhead leaves less time to drive the paid load.
How can I reduce deadhead miles?+
Line up the next load before you deliver the current one, and look for freight leaving the area you are going to. A backhaul, which is a load on the return trip, turns an empty leg into a paid one. Choose lanes with strong freight in both directions, and add deadhead into the rate you quote.
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This is industry terminology and typical practice. It is not legal or tax advice. Rates, fees, and rules mentioned are general ranges. Confirm the details on your rate confirmation, carrier agreement, or a current official source.