10 Ways Ontario Fleet Owners Lose Money on Empty Trucks

For Ontario fleet owners, empty trucks are not just an inconvenience — they are a direct drain on profitability. Every kilometre driven without a paying load costs money in fuel, driver wages, depreciation, and maintenance, while generating zero revenue. The average Ontario fleet runs 20–35% empty kilometres. If your fleet is in that range, you are leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table every year. Here are the 10 most common ways fleet owners lose money on empty trucks — and how to fix each one.

1. No Backhaul Strategy

The most common and costly mistake: completing a delivery and driving back empty with no plan to fill the return trip. **The cost**: A 200 km return trip at $1.44/km in direct costs = $288 per trip. At 3 trips per week, that is $44,928 per year per truck — just in direct costs. **The fix**: Before every outbound delivery, search load boards (DAT, Loadlink) or check your GoGedit driver app for loads going in the direction of your home base.

2. Ignoring Local Delivery Platforms

Many fleet owners focus exclusively on long-haul freight and ignore the lucrative local delivery market. Platforms like GoGedit connect Ontario fleet owners with local delivery loads — furniture, appliances, large items — that fill empty capacity on short return trips. **The cost**: Missed revenue of $100–$250 per local delivery that could fill an otherwise empty return trip. **The fix**: Register your drivers on GoGedit and accept local delivery jobs on return trips. Most fleet partners see 30–60% reduction in empty kilometres in Ontario urban areas.

3. Poor Route Planning

Delivering to one location and returning empty when there are loads available nearby is a route planning failure. Many fleet owners do not invest in route optimisation tools that identify backhaul opportunities along their regular lanes. **The cost**: 10–20% more empty kilometres than necessary. **The fix**: Use route optimisation software that incorporates backhaul load availability. Even basic tools can reduce empty kilometres significantly.

4. No Freight Broker Relationships

Freight brokers who specialise in your lanes can proactively find backhaul loads for you. Fleet owners without broker relationships miss out on loads that never appear on public load boards. **The cost**: Loads that could fill your trucks go to competitors with broker relationships. **The fix**: Build relationships with 2–3 freight brokers who specialise in your regular Ontario lanes. Check in with them before every outbound trip.

5. Refusing Partial Loads

Some fleet owners only accept full truckloads, turning down partial loads (PTL) that could fill empty space. A partial load at a lower rate is always better than an empty truck. **The cost**: Revenue from partial loads that could offset empty kilometre costs. **The fix**: Be open to partial truckload freight on return trips. A load that fills 40% of your truck at 60% of full-load rates is still profitable compared to driving empty.

6. Inefficient Scheduling

Scheduling deliveries without considering return load availability means trucks regularly complete deliveries in areas with no backhaul freight. Poor scheduling is a structural cause of high empty kilometres. **The cost**: Systemic empty kilometres that compound across your entire fleet. **The fix**: When possible, schedule deliveries in areas with strong backhaul freight availability. Build return load sourcing into your dispatch process.

7. Not Tracking Empty Kilometre Costs

Many fleet owners do not track empty kilometres separately from loaded kilometres. Without visibility into your deadhead rate, you cannot manage it. **The cost**: Unknown — which means unmanaged. **The fix**: Track empty kilometres per truck per week. Set a target (under 15% is achievable for most Ontario fleets). Review weekly and investigate any truck consistently above target.

8. Driver Reluctance to Accept Backhaul Loads

Some drivers resist backhaul loads because they add time to their day. Without incentives or clear expectations, drivers may prefer to drive empty and go home early. **The cost**: Backhaul revenue left on the table due to driver behaviour. **The fix**: Create driver incentives for accepting backhaul loads. Share a percentage of backhaul revenue with drivers. Set clear expectations that backhaul sourcing is part of the job.

9. Seasonal Imbalances

Many Ontario fleet owners experience seasonal freight imbalances — heavy outbound in one direction during certain seasons, with no corresponding inbound freight. Without a plan for seasonal backhaul, empty kilometres spike. **The cost**: Seasonal spikes in empty kilometres that can double your annual deadhead rate. **The fix**: Identify your seasonal imbalances and proactively source backhaul freight for those periods. GoGedit local delivery loads are available year-round and can fill seasonal gaps.

10. No Direct Shipper Relationships

Fleet owners who rely entirely on load boards and brokers miss the most profitable backhaul source: direct shipper relationships. Shippers who regularly need freight moved in your lanes can provide predictable, well-priced backhaul volume. **The cost**: Paying broker margins on loads you could source directly, or missing loads entirely. **The fix**: Identify 3–5 shippers in your regular lanes who need regular freight moved. Build direct relationships over time. Direct shipper loads are typically 15–25% better rates than broker loads.

The True Cost of Empty Miles

| 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 | | **Total** | **$2.50–$4.63** | **$125,000–$231,500** |

Start Reducing Empty Miles Today

The fastest way to reduce empty kilometres in Ontario is to join GoGedit as a fleet partner. GoGedit connects your available truck capacity with local delivery loads across Ontario — turning empty return trips into revenue. [Join GoGedit as a Fleet Partner](/be-a-driver) | [How Can Fleet Owners Reduce Empty Miles?](/answers/how-can-fleet-owners-reduce-empty-miles) | [The Hidden Cost of Deadhead Miles](/blog/hidden-cost-deadhead-miles-fleet-owners) | [Generate Revenue Through Partial Truckloads](/blog/fleet-owners-generate-revenue-partial-truckloads)