For owner-operators and trucking companies across America, every mile should count toward the bottom line. But deadhead miles are siphoning away profits from your overall operation. These empty miles are costing the trucking industry billions annually. So, if you’re not actively managing them, they could be draining your profits faster than the diesel in your tank.
What Are Deadhead Miles in Trucking?
Deadhead miles refer to the distance a commercial truck travels without cargo. Basically, a truck that’s running empty. Whether you’re driving from a delivery drop-off to pick up your next load, repositioning to a different market, or returning home after completing a haul, these miles generate zero revenue while racking up significant expenses.
In the trucking industry, deadhead miles are sometimes called “empty miles” or “non-revenue miles.” No matter what you call them, the impact on your profitability is the same: you’re burning fuel, logging driver hours, and putting wear on your equipment without earning a single dollar. Obviously, that’s not ideal for you.
Understanding what deadhead miles mean in trucking is the first step toward protecting your profits. Unlike loaded miles that generate revenue and justify operational costs, deadhead miles represent pure expense, a necessary evil that smart operators work tirelessly to minimize.
To start saving on deadhead miles today, check out our locations!
What’s The True Cost of Driving Deadhead Miles?
When you calculate the cost of deadhead miles, the numbers are sobering. These aren’t just wasted miles; they’re actively draining cash from your operation with every rotation of your tires.
Extra Fuel Costs = The Biggest Profit Killer
Fuel is typically the largest operational expense for any trucking operation, representing 24-38% of total costs depending on equipment and routes. When those fuel dollars are spent on deadhead miles, you’re essentially lighting money on fire. By the way, those fuel costs don’t travel alone. Don’t forget the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) taxes you’ll owe on that fuel, adding insult to injury.
Additional Wear and Tear on Your Truck
Every mile you drive, either fully loaded or empty, puts stress on your equipment. Deadhead miles accelerate:
- Tire wear: Even without cargo weight, tires degrade with every mile
- Engine maintenance cycles: Oil changes, filter replacements, and tune-ups are determined by mileage, not revenue
- Brake system degradation: Your brakes don’t care if you’re hauling freight or running empty
- Transmission and drivetrain stress: Components wear regardless of trailer contents
- Suspension system fatigue: Shocks, springs, and air systems all have limited lifespans
When your loads aren’t profitable enough to cover these accelerated maintenance expenses, you’re caught in a financial squeeze. The maintenance bills come due whether you’ve been running profitably or not.
Your Time is Wasted
In trucking, time equals money, but only when you’re hauling revenue-generating freight. Every hour spent driving deadhead miles represents lost opportunities to:
- Haul profitable loads
- Build relationships with reliable shippers
- Increase your annual mileage with paying freight
- Improve your days-to-pay ratio
- Strengthen your financial position for growth
For an owner-operator, time spent deadheading isn’t just unproductive; it’s actively harmful to your business. You’re depleting resources (fuel, equipment life, and driver hours) while generating nothing to show for it.
The Impact of Deadhead Miles on Trucking Companies and Owner-Operators
The impact of deadhead miles isn’t felt equally across the whole trucking industry. While every carrier feels the sting, owner-operators and small carriers typically deal with the largest drain in profits.
Why Do Small Operators Suffer Most?
Owner-operators and small carriers are hit hardest by deadhead miles because they directly absorb the entire financial burden of operating costs, like fuel, maintenance, insurance, and more for every non-revenue-generating mile. They also have far less ability than large corporations to negotiate paid deadhead or secure immediate backhauls.
1. Direct Cost Absorption
Unlike company drivers who might receive partial compensation for deadhead miles, owner-operators pay for all fuel and operational expenses out of pocket. There’s no corporate account to absorb losses every deadhead mile comes directly out of your potential profit.
2. Lack of Network Density
Large carriers leverage extensive freight networks and advanced logistics software to minimize empty miles through:
- Strategic route planning
- Dedicated lanes with guaranteed backhauls
- Preferred shipper relationships
- Proprietary freight matching technology
Small operators, by contrast, frequently rely on public load boards to find freight. This often means significant travel to the next pickup location, deadhead miles you simply can’t avoid without better options.
3. Opportunity Costs That Compound
Every mile driven empty is a lost opportunity to haul paying freight and generate revenue. While large carriers might absorb a few empty miles without crisis, small operators feel every wasted mile in their bank accounts.
4. Increased Risk of Financial Instability
The cumulative effect of uncompensated costs makes small businesses dramatically more vulnerable to financial instability. During economic downturns, periods of high fuel prices, or seasonal freight slowdowns, excessive deadhead miles can be the factor that pushes an operation from struggling to shut down.
Can You Write Off Deadhead Miles?
The short answer: No. You cannot write off deadhead miles as a separate deduction. The IRS already accounts for them in the standard mileage deduction, which covers all business miles driven, whether they’re full or empty.
Additionally, owner-operators cannot claim separate deductions for time spent working on their own equipment. The tax code doesn’t distinguish between productive, revenue-generating miles and costly deadhead miles, which means you’re getting no tax relief for this profit drain.
How National Truck Parking Can Save You Money and Reduce Deadhead Miles
Here’s a deadhead factor many owner-operators overlook: where you park between loads directly impacts your empty miles.
When you need secure truck or trailer storage between loads, your parking location matters. Park in the wrong spot, and you might add 50-100 deadhead miles just getting to your next pickup. Over time, those unnecessary empty miles add up to thousands of wasted dollars. National Truck Parking offers strategic advantages that directly combat deadhead miles.
NTP is Strategically Located in Key Logistics Markets
National Truck Parking maintains facilities in prime logistics markets throughout the United States. Our locations aren’t random, they’re positioned where freight moves, which means you can stage your truck or trailer close to your next load opportunity, minimizing deadhead positioning miles.
NTP Has Secure Storage While You Look for the Right Freight
Sometimes the best strategy is waiting for the right travel load rather than accepting marginal freight that keeps you moving but unprofitable. Our secure facilities give you the freedom to:
- Park safely while you search for profitable backhauls
- Store trailers loaded with freight that deliver later
- Position equipment strategically for future loads
- Take required rest breaks without safety concerns
All our yards feature controlled access, CCTV security, comprehensive lighting, and secure fencing to protect your assets while they’re off the road.
NTP Has Flexibility for Every Operation Size
Whether you’re an individual owner-operator with a single truck, a small carrier with a handful of units, or a large international carrier managing hundreds of assets, National Truck Parking welcomes you. We provide flexible storage solutions that scale with your operation.
Start Protecting Your Profits Today
Don’t let poor parking choices add unnecessary deadhead miles to your operation. Contact National Truck Parking today to learn how our strategic locations throughout the United States can help you minimize empty miles, protect your assets, and keep your operation profitable.