Direct answer
Apply all-mile cost to empty miles and spread that deadhead cost across the loaded miles. Keep fuel as a separate check, but do not add it twice when the all-mile cost already includes fuel.
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| Numbers shown on this page | Fictional worked example; not a market benchmark |
| Formula and definitions | Serman Tools method stated on this page |
| Your load result | Your verified route and operating inputs |
Two useful deadhead numbers
1. Deadhead fuel cost
This answers a narrow cash question: how much fuel will the empty miles consume at the entered MPG and fuel price?
2. Full deadhead economic cost
This applies your all-in operating cost per mile to the empty miles. That cost can include fuel, maintenance reserve, tires and allocated fixed costs. If fuel is already inside the all-in cost, do not add the fuel result again.
A fictional example
Inputs: 100 deadhead miles, 500 loaded miles, $4.00 fuel, 6.5 MPG and $1.50 full economic cost per mile.
Fuel check: 100 × $4.00 ÷ 6.5 = $61.54.
Full deadhead cost: 100 × $1.50 = $150.00.
Recovery across loaded miles: $150 ÷ 500 = $0.30 per loaded mile.
The $61.54 fuel number is already part of the $150 full-cost result if the $1.50 cost per mile includes fuel. Adding both would count fuel twice.
Why loaded-mile rate can mislead
A load pays on loaded miles, but the truck incurs cost on every trip mile. A $3.00 loaded-mile rate across 500 loaded miles produces $1,500 of linehaul revenue. With another 100 deadhead miles, revenue per total mile is $1,500 ÷ 600, or $2.50 before accessorial revenue.
That does not automatically make the load good or bad. It makes the denominator honest. Profit still depends on your cost per total mile, tolls, fees and other trip costs.
Four checks before accepting a load
- Use total trip miles. Add loaded and deadhead miles for the cost calculation.
- Define your cost per mile. Know whether fuel and fixed costs are included.
- Keep revenue fees separate. Factoring or broker fees are normally a share of revenue, not a per-mile operating cost.
- Test the whole load. Compare total revenue with cost across all miles plus tolls and other trip-specific expenses.
Limits
This method is a planning model. It does not estimate taxes, hours-of-service feasibility, safety, maintenance events, insurance changes, detention probability, dispatch quality or future rate availability. Use current route and operating data and verify the assumptions before a business decision.
Run your own deadhead scenario
The free calculator shows fuel cost, full deadhead cost, deadhead share and the loaded-mile increase needed to recover empty miles.
Open the Deadhead Cost Calculator