- Effective rate per total mile
- $1.65/mi
- Cost of the deadhead
- $198
- Fully allocated deadhead cost
- $198
- Incremental fuel/wear/toll cost
- $0
- Deadhead as % of total miles
- 15.5%
- Quoted rate (loaded miles)
- $1.95/mi
- Margin per mile after deadhead
- $-0.15/mi
How it works
The deadhead cost is empty miles times your cost per mile. The effective rate is load revenue divided by total miles — loaded plus deadhead — which is what the load actually pays. The margin per mile is the effective rate minus your cost per mile.
A quoted rate that looks strong on loaded miles can be breakeven or worse once the empty miles to reach the pickup are blended in.
Assumptions
- Deadhead is only the empty miles to start this load, not any repositioning after it.
- Cost per mile is your own figure — use the cost-per-mile calculator if you do not have it.
- Load revenue is all-in (linehaul plus fuel surcharge plus any accessorials you will actually collect).
Worked example
A load pays $1,170 all-in for 600 loaded miles with 110 deadhead miles to reach the pickup, against a cost per mile of $1.80. The deadhead costs about $198. The quoted rate is $1.95 per loaded mile, but the effective rate is about $1.65 per total mile — a negative margin of roughly $0.15 per mile.
FAQ
What if I have a backhaul lined up?
This tool prices one load and its starting deadhead. If a backhaul covers the return, run it as its own load with its own (small) deadhead — the round trip is what matters.
What deadhead percentage is normal?
There is no universal deadhead percentage that applies to every carrier or load. Use your own dispatch history where you have it; this calculator shows the result for the miles you enter.
Guides: Reducing deadhead and choosing lanes
Questions: How do I reduce deadhead miles?, How do I price a load?
In Trailflow: dispatch.