- Effective rate per total mile
- $1.65/mi
- Cost of the deadhead
- $198
- 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?
Long-haul dry van operations commonly run in the low-to-mid teens across all their miles. A single load with 15–20% deadhead can still be fine if the rate covers it; the calculator shows whether it does.
Guides: Reducing deadhead and choosing lanes
Questions: How do I reduce deadhead miles?, How do I price a load?
In Trailflow: dispatch.