What is Deadhead and How to Reduce It? 

While the trucking industry has made strides to boost freight efficiency in recent years, there is still a long way to go in terms of making trucking more cost-effective, fuel efficient, and environmentally friendly. One huge problem the industry is currently facing? Empty miles, also referred to as deadhead.

What is deadhead?

Deadhead refers to anytime a trucker is hauling an empty trailer. Since finding loads isn’t always easy, deadheading is often necessary to get to the next load.

What are the drawbacks of deadheading?

So, you’re driving, but you technically aren’t making any money for your boss because you’re not hauling a load from point A to point B. Not all trucking companies pay for deadheading, but some do. While you may still be paid for your time, it’s typically a fraction of the money you would be making if you were hauling freight. For example, Swift Transportation pays drivers around $1.07 per deadhead mile, and CR England pays $0.80 per deadhead mile.

 

If you’re an independent owner-operator, this can be even more challenging because there’s no one to cover your empty miles. Either way, you are racking up mileage on your truck, burning through diesel, and wearing down your tires for little or no monetary gain.

Additionally, deadheading can be dangerous. Trailers with no cargo weigh half as much as full ones, making them more difficult to control. This can be even more of an issue if you find yourself driving through high winds, so it’s best to make sure your trailer is full as often as possible.

How can I avoid deadhead?

The obvious answer is to make sure your trailer is rarely, or never, empty — but that’s easier said than done, right? Well, what if you could get real-time load matching opportunities pushed straight to your smartphone? That’s where GoLoad comes in.

Designed to eliminate waste, improve profitability, and help drivers improve their lives through technology, GoLoad harnesses the power of the mobile cloud ecosystem and GPS data to help drivers streamline their drives and add more value to their routes. To keep things simple, GoLoad is integrated within the My20 ELD so you can keep track of your HOS and receive load opportunities in the same place.

GoLoad is the only load matching system of its kind that directly and transparently connects the country’s trucks to the country’s shippers to help eliminate the largest source of waste for fleets: empty miles.

Interested in reducing empty miles and avoiding deadhead with GoLoad? Watch the video to see more about how it works!