What is deadhead in trucking?

A deadhead in trucking refers to a situation when a truck is driving with an empty trailer or without any load. This can occur when a truck completes a delivery and needs to return to its home base or pick up a new load from a different location.

Deadheading is not ideal for truck drivers as it means they are not generating any revenue during that time. However, deadheading is sometimes necessary to position trucks for their next load or return them to their home base.

Truck drivers try to minimize deadhead miles by planning their routes effectively and securing backhauls or return loads whenever possible. This helps to maximize their earnings and reduce empty miles on the road.