Deadhead Loss Calculator
Quantify what empty miles are costing you each month.
Deadhead loss equals deadhead miles × your cost per mile. At $2.00 CPM and 1,200 monthly deadhead miles, that's $2,400 of pure cost with no revenue against it.
How it works
- 1Track empty miles
Count every mile driven without a paying load — repositioning, home time, dry runs.
- 2Multiply by CPM
Use your true all-in CPM, not just fuel, since the truck still incurs fixed costs while empty.
- 3Set a deadhead ceiling
Top dispatched fleets hold deadhead under 8% of total miles.
Example: 1,200 deadhead miles/month at $2.00 CPM
| Monthly deadhead cost | $2,400 |
| Annualized | $28,800 |
| Equivalent extra loads needed | ~6 loads/mo at $400 net |
Takeaway: Cutting deadhead from 1,200 to 600 miles/mo puts ~$14,400/yr back in your pocket.
Key takeaways
- Top dispatched fleets keep deadhead under 8% of total miles.
- Cutting 1,200 mo deadhead miles in half puts ~$14,400/yr in your pocket.
- Deadhead still incurs full fixed costs — count it at all-in CPM, not fuel-only.
Expert tips from Bonafide dispatchers
- 1
Ask your dispatcher to commit your reload before you deliver — that single habit cuts deadhead by 30–50%.
- 2
Lane-pair preferred shippers so backhauls become repeatable, not opportunistic.
- 3
Set a 75-mile soft cap on deadhead-to-pickup; demand a higher RPM when you exceed it.
Who uses this calculator
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of deadhead is acceptable?+
Top dispatched fleets hold deadhead at 5–8% of total miles. Above 12% signals lane planning problems.
Do brokers pay for deadhead?+
Sometimes — usually rolled into the linehaul rate. A great dispatcher negotiates a higher all-in rate when deadhead exceeds 50 miles.
How do I reduce deadhead miles?+
Plan round-trip lanes, build relationships with consistent shippers, and use a dispatcher who books your reload before you deliver.
Last reviewed June 15, 2026 by the Bonafide Trucking Solutions dispatch team.