How Much Is Left on a Load After You Count Deadhead Miles?

Suppose a load pays $1,100 for 300 quoted miles, or about $3.67 per mile. You still have to drive empty to pickup and then to the next pickup area after delivery. Before you book the load, include the cost of both legs. Work out what the trip can pay you for your time and how much will be left after that.

How far will the truck actually go?

Drive 25 miles empty to pickup, 300 miles loaded and another 25 miles empty after delivery. Those two empty legs are your deadhead miles. The truck travels 350 miles for the same $1,100. That works out to about $3.14 in revenue per actual mile before costs.

Allow for your own pay, then see what is left

Suppose fuel, tires, maintenance, tolls, and the trip's share of truck payments and insurance total $550. You want to allow $250 for your own work. Together, those two amounts put the estimated trip cost at $800.

Subtract the $800 from the $1,100 rate. After allowing $250 for your own pay, you expect the load to leave another $300. That balance is before tax.

If the planned next load falls through, you might have to drive another 50 miles empty after delivery. Suppose that adds $60 in truck expenses and $30 for your extra time. The rate stays the same, and the amount left after costs drops from $300 to $210.

Use your own numbers to decide whether to take it

Once you have the rate confirmation, you can work through three steps.

1. Record the rate. Write down the confirmed total. If the fuel surcharge is included, use the total as stated. Leave any detention payment that has yet to be agreed out of the estimate.

2. Estimate the cost. Start where the truck is parked. Include the miles to pickup, the loaded trip and the miles you expect to drive after delivery. Estimate truck expenses using your own fuel economy, fuel price and bills, then add the pay for your work on this trip.

3. See if it is enough. After subtracting truck expenses and pay, check whether the amount left meets your goal. If you want another $300 left over, the $1,100 rate meets that goal on the original route. If you have to drive another 50 miles empty, the extra $90 in costs raises your target to $1,190 for the same amount left over. You can also see whether you can shorten that empty leg.

If you are unsure about fuel prices along the route, see the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) regional diesel averages. To check for missing truck expenses, compare your list with the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) operating cost report. Use your own bills for the amounts.

Disclaimer. This article draws on diesel price data and an industry operating cost report checked on November 9, 2026. The example uses hypothetical figures for load pricing estimates. Rates, diesel prices, routes and actual costs vary. Reimbursement depends on written terms and the actual settlement. Consult a qualified professional about individual accounting or tax questions. This article makes no guarantee of profitability or payment, and the author and publisher assume no liability for losses arising from independent decisions based on it.

American Transportation Research Institute. “New ATRI Report Details Accelerating Costs and Low Profitability Despite Cuts.” 15 July 2026, Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update.” Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.