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Haul Math

Before you take the load

Deadhead Miles Calculator

What the empty miles to the shipper cost you, and what the load really pays once you count them.

From where you are now to the shipper.

All-in rate on the load board, fuel surcharge included. Leave blank to see only the cost of the empty miles.

All-in, including your own pay. Don't know it? Use the cost per mile calculator.

Your result

Enter the empty miles, loaded miles, and posted rate, then tap "Calculate deadhead". The example numbers are already filled in.

How this calculator works

This calculator does three things with the same numbers:

  • Deadhead % = deadhead miles ÷ (loaded miles + deadhead miles). The share of the trip you drive for free.
  • Cost of deadhead = deadhead miles × cost per mile. Fuel, tires, wear, and your time, for miles nobody pays for.
  • Effective rate = (posted rate × loaded miles) ÷ total miles. What the load pays per mile once the empty miles are counted.

Take a load posted at $2.75 a mile for 480 loaded miles, with 135 miles empty to get to it. The load pays $2.75 × 480 = $1,320. You drive 615 miles, so it really pays $1,320 ÷ 615 = $2.146 per mile you run. If your cost per mile is $1.85, the 135 empty miles cost you $249.75, and the trip still clears $182.25.

The effective rate is the number to compare with your cost per mile. A load posted well above your cost can drop below it once you add a long deadhead. The calculator also shows the most empty miles you could run before the load stops covering its cost.

To turn this into the lowest rate you can accept, use the break-even rate calculator. To add tolls, lumper fees, fuel surcharge, and extra pay, use the load profit calculator.