How Can Fleet Owners Reduce Empty Miles?
Fleet owners can reduce empty miles by joining platforms like GoGedit for local delivery loads, monitoring load boards for backhaul freight, and building direct shipper relationships. Top Ontario fleets achieve under 15% deadhead kilometres — vs the industry average of 20–35%.
5 strategies to reduce empty miles
- 1
Join GoGedit as a fleet partner
GoGedit matches your available truck capacity with local delivery loads in Ontario. Accept deliveries on return trips to fill empty kilometres. Most fleet partners see 30–60% reduction in deadhead in urban Ontario areas.
Become a GoGedit Fleet Partner → - 2
Monitor load boards for backhaul freight
Load boards (DAT, Loadlink, Truckstop.com) list available freight loads in real-time. Search for loads going in the direction of your home base after deliveries.
- 3
Build freight broker relationships
Freight brokers who specialise in your lanes can proactively find backhaul loads for you. Build relationships with 2–3 brokers for your regular routes.
- 4
Develop direct shipper relationships
Direct relationships with shippers who regularly need freight moved in your lanes eliminate broker margins and provide predictable backhaul volume.
- 5
Use route optimisation software
Route optimisation tools identify opportunities to combine deliveries and reduce empty repositioning kilometres — typically 10–20% deadhead reduction.
Empty miles cost calculator
| Cost Category | Per Empty km | Annual (50,000 empty km) |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | $0.45–$0.72 | $22,500–$36,000 |
| Driver wages | $0.28–$0.46 | $14,000–$23,000 |
| Depreciation | $0.15–$0.25 | $7,500–$12,500 |
| Maintenance | $0.12–$0.20 | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Opportunity cost | $1.50–$3.00 | $75,000–$150,000 |
Turn empty miles into revenue
GoGedit fleet partners earn $100–$250 per delivery on loads that fill empty return trips across Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
How can fleet owners reduce empty miles?
Fleet owners can reduce empty miles by: (1) joining platforms like GoGedit for local delivery loads, (2) monitoring load boards (DAT, Loadlink) for backhaul freight, (3) building relationships with freight brokers who specialise in your lanes, (4) developing direct shipper relationships, and (5) using route optimisation software.
What percentage of truck kilometres are typically empty?
The industry average is 20–35% empty kilometres. High-performing fleets achieve 10–15% empty kilometres through effective backhaul management. If your fleet is above 25% deadhead, there are likely significant opportunities to reduce empty miles.
How much do empty miles cost per kilometre?
Empty miles cost $0.73–$1.44 per kilometre in direct costs (fuel + driver wages + depreciation + maintenance). Including opportunity cost (revenue not earned), the true economic cost is $2.35–$4.44 per deadhead kilometre.
What is a backhaul load?
A backhaul load is freight that fills your truck on the return journey after completing a delivery. Instead of driving back empty, you pick up a load going in the direction of your home base. Backhaul loads are typically priced 15–30% below headhaul rates but dramatically improve route profitability.
Can GoGedit help fleet owners reduce empty miles?
Yes. GoGedit's fleet partner program connects Ontario fleet owners with local delivery loads that fill empty capacity. Fleet partners typically see 30–60% reduction in empty kilometres in Ontario urban areas by accepting GoGedit deliveries on return trips.