Calculate the true cost of deadhead miles, your deadhead percentage, and the break-even rate you need on your next load to cover empty miles.
Deadhead Cost Formula
DC = DM * CPM
BER = ((DM + LM) * CPM) / LM
DH% = DM / (DM + LM) * 100
- DC is the deadhead cost ($)
- DM is the deadhead (empty) miles driven
- CPM is the all-in cost per mile ($/mile)
- BER is the break-even rate per loaded mile ($/mile)
- LM is the loaded miles on the next load
- DH% is the deadhead percentage (%)
The calculator solves for three things. The cost mode multiplies your empty miles by your cost per mile, either a single all-in figure or one built from diesel price, empty MPG, and maintenance and tire wear. It also reports how many hours of your 14-hour Hours of Service window the run consumes. The break-even mode spreads the cost of all miles driven, empty plus loaded, across only the loaded miles, giving the minimum rate per loaded mile you must be paid; enter an offered rate and it returns the trip profit or loss after the deadhead. The percentage mode divides empty miles by total miles and projects the result into an annual deadhead cost.
Typical Cost Per Empty Mile and What Deadhead Costs Per Year
Your cost per empty mile depends mostly on fuel economy and equipment. The figures below assume diesel at $3.60 per gallon and typical Class 8 maintenance and tire wear.
| Configuration | Empty MPG | Fuel $/mile | Wear $/mile | All-in $/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry van (empty trailer) | 6.5 | $0.55 | $0.10 – $0.15 | $0.65 – $0.70 |
| Reefer (unit running) | 5.5 – 6.0 | $0.60 – $0.65 | $0.12 – $0.17 | $0.72 – $0.82 |
| Flatbed (empty) | 6.5 – 7.0 | $0.51 – $0.55 | $0.10 – $0.15 | $0.62 – $0.70 |
| Bobtail (no trailer) | 8.0 – 10.0 | $0.36 – $0.45 | $0.08 – $0.12 | $0.44 – $0.57 |
The second table shows what a given deadhead percentage costs over a full year at $0.67 per empty mile. Find your weekly total miles, then read across to your deadhead percentage. Cutting from 20% to 10% at 2,500 miles per week returns about $8,710 a year.
| Weekly total miles | 10% deadhead | 15% deadhead | 20% deadhead | 25% deadhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 | $6,968/yr | $10,452/yr | $13,936/yr | $17,420/yr |
| 2,500 | $8,710/yr | $13,065/yr | $17,420/yr | $21,775/yr |
| 3,000 | $10,452/yr | $15,678/yr | $20,904/yr | $26,130/yr |
Example Problems
Example 1: Cost of a deadhead run. You must deadhead 175 miles to a pickup. Diesel is $3.60 per gallon, your truck gets 6.5 MPG running empty, and you figure $0.12 per mile in maintenance and tire wear. Fuel cost per mile is 3.60 / 6.5 = $0.554, so your cost per empty mile is 0.554 + 0.12 = $0.674. The deadhead cost is 175 * 0.674 = $117.92, burning about 26.9 gallons of diesel and roughly 3.2 hours of your 14-hour window at 55 mph.
Example 2: Break-even rate for the next load. You deadhead 200 miles for a 650-mile load and your all-in operating cost is $1.20 per mile. Total trip cost is (200 + 650) * 1.20 = $1,020. The break-even rate is 1,020 / 650 = $1.57 per loaded mile. To clear $0.40 per loaded mile in profit you need (1,020 + 0.40 * 650) / 650 = $1.97 per loaded mile. If the load is offered at $2.10, revenue is $1,365, revenue per total mile is $1.61, and the trip nets $345 after the deadhead, so it clears the target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good deadhead percentage?
Under 10% is excellent and usually reflects strong lane planning and consistent backhauls. 10% to 15% is good, 15% to 20% is about the industry average, and anything above 20% means one mile in five earns nothing and your load planning needs attention. Track the number weekly, because a single bad reposition can hide inside a monthly average.
Do deadhead miles count against Hours of Service?
Yes. FMCSA rules count all time behind the wheel as driving time whether the trailer is loaded, empty, or absent. Deadhead miles consume your 11-hour driving limit and 14-hour on-duty window exactly like loaded miles, which is why the calculator reports hours consumed. A 200-mile deadhead at 55 mph spends about 3.6 hours of driving time that can no longer go toward a paying load.
Should you take a cheap backhaul instead of deadheading?
Usually yes for longer distances. Compare the backhaul revenue minus your operating cost against the pure cost of running empty. A 300-mile backhaul at $1.50 per mile pays $450 against roughly $200 in extra deadhead cost avoided, while deadheading those 300 miles costs about $200 and pays nothing. For short repositions under 50 miles, driving empty is often cheaper than waiting hours for a load.
