How to Avoid Deadhead Trucking and Maximize Truck Driver Pay
Every trucker understands how deadheading can quietly cut into earnings.
Deadheading means driving with an empty trailer, piling up deadhead miles that don’t earn any money. These miles happen whenever a trailer is moved after a delivery and before picking up the next load. Seeing the real impact of these empty runs makes it clear why deadhead miles matter for both pay and the overall condition of the truck.
Why Deadhead Miles Matter
Empty miles do more than cost money. They lower your effective truck driver per-mile pay and reduce overall earnings. Driving an empty trailer is different from driving a loaded one. It can be more challenging to control in the wind, and trucks are more susceptible to swaying. Minimizing dead mileage keeps the truck safer and in better shape.
Every deadhead mile takes fuel, time, and wears off your rig without giving anything back. For drivers tracking their pay per mile and owner-operators paying for fuel and tires out of pocket, the effect is real.
Thinking about deadhead miles this way makes it clear why planning and strategy matter. Learning how many deadhead miles are too many and how to handle them can turn a wasted run into a profitable one.
This video breaks it down and offers practical ways to keep every mile working for you:
Knowing the average truck driver's mileage pay makes it clear why reducing empty miles is so important.
Truck Driver Miles and Pay
Most truckers cover 500 to 600 miles a day, depending on hours-of-service rules and road conditions. That adds up to 2,500 to 3,000 miles per week. The average pay per mile for truck drivers is usually around 28 to 60 cents, with more experienced drivers or specialized freight earning more.
Every mile counts for owner operators because fuel, maintenance, and insurance keep ticking. Cutting deadhead miles helps make sure the average truck driver's mile pay is closer to what drivers expect and need to make the run worthwhile.
Smart Ways to Avoid Deadhead Trucking
There are several practical ways to reduce deadhead trucking time and keep the truck loaded as much as possible.
1. Plan backhaul loads
Securing a load for the return trip turns deadhead freight into revenue miles. Load boards and apps make it easier to find backhauls and cut down on deadhead miles in trucking.
2. Focus on regional routes
Staying near major freight hubs reduces long empty trips. Permanent lanes and recurring contracts ensure your trailer is moving with freight instead of sitting idle.
Deadhead truckload trips become rare when the route is well-planned.
3. Take partial or smaller loads
Even less-than-truckload freight helps avoid empty miles and keeps the truck earning. It also opens up more opportunities to stay productive between big loads.
4. Diversify freight types
Hauling dry van, reefer, and flatbed freight opens more opportunities and reduces the chances of running empty.
5. Negotiate deadhead pay
When empty runs are unavoidable, a deadhead mileage rate or deadhead pay can protect drivers and owner operators from losing money.
6. Use planning and forecasting tools
Some trucking apps and route-planning software make it easier to see where loads are waiting near your drop-off points and provide up-to-date weather forecasts.
The Benefits of Reducing Deadhead Miles
Fewer deadhead miles mean more money, safer driving, and lower costs. Trucks use less fuel, tires last longer, and engines don’t take as much wear and tear. Drivers spend more of their time hauling freight instead of running empty, which increases truck driver pay per mile, keeps schedules predictable, and reduces stress on the road. Fleets benefit too, with smoother operations and better reliability for shippers.
So, managing deadhead trucking effectively turns what could be wasted miles into productive, paid miles. Planning backhauls, taking partial loads when possible, staying flexible with freight types, and negotiating fair deadhead pay all keep trucks moving efficiently.
