Deadhead mileage

few as possible

 

It all depends on what type of equipment you are pulling and what cargo you haul.

Take for example, you will have more deadhead with a flatbed compared to a dry van. Around where I come from most of the guys pulling flatbeds are iron haulers. Well they won't touch shingles, lumber, and even plastic pipe. So they could of reloaded with in 20 miles of their last delivery, but since they limit themselves they end up going 50-60 sometimes more. I ran heavy alot hauling iron (50,000lbs+ on the deck of the trailer) so I would usually just deadhead back to the mill or my customer. You really can't do that now cause of many reasons, but mostly fuel and the lack of freight.

Now pulling a dry van I try to keep my deadhead down to about 5-8%. But if the load pays enough I will go after it. Thats a line you have to figure on your own.

 

10 % or less would be acceptable for me...

 

What are your plans ? Some companies have guaranteed minimum pay for all miles , loaded or empty .

 

I often overheard the steel haulers at our Taylor, MI, terminal. They hauled from Gary/Hammond to Detroit. They took "their back haul with them" in the form of overweight loads on the front haul, and went back empty.

 

As many miles as it takes to get the best load. For example:

100 mile deadhead to get load that pays $1.75 per mile for 1000 miles = $1.60 per mile for all the miles. Total revenue $1750

300 mile deadhead to get load that pays $2.10 per miles for 1500 miles = $.175 per mile for all the miles. Total revenue $3150