Deadhead vs Empty Miles
These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences. Here's what each means and why it matters for your bottom line.
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O TruckingDeadhead vs Empty Miles: Key Differences Explained
Quick Comparison Table
Before diving into details, here's a side-by-side breakdown of how deadhead miles, empty miles, and bobtail miles differ in practice:
| Feature | Deadhead Miles | Empty Miles | Bobtail Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Driving with empty trailer to next pickup | All non-revenue miles (umbrella term) | Driving tractor only, no trailer attached |
| Revenue | None | None | None |
| Common Usage | Industry standard term | General / fleet management term | Specific driving situation |
| Includes Fuel Stops | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance Coverage | Standard policy | Standard policy | May need separate bobtail insurance |
What Are Deadhead Miles?
Deadhead miles are the specific miles you drive from your delivery location to your next pickup while pulling an empty trailer. This is the most common type of non-revenue driving in trucking and the term you'll hear most often on load boards and in broker conversations.
For example, you deliver a load in Memphis and your next pickup is 120 miles away in Little Rock. Those 120 miles are deadhead. You're burning fuel, putting wear on your truck and trailer, and spending your drive time without generating any income.
The good news: deadhead is the most controllable type of empty miles. Smart dispatch planning, strategic lane selection, and building broker relationships can significantly reduce how many deadhead miles you run each week.
Read our full deadhead glossary entry for formulas, cost breakdowns, and reduction strategies.
What Are Empty Miles?
Empty miles is the broader umbrella term for all miles driven without generating revenue. It includes deadhead, but goes further. Any time your truck is moving and you're not getting paid for it, those are empty miles.
Empty miles include:
- Deadhead miles - driving with an empty trailer to a pickup
- Bobtail miles - driving without a trailer at all
- Repositioning miles - moving to a better freight market
- Personal use miles - driving home for time off or personal errands
The key distinction: all deadhead is empty miles, but not all empty miles are deadhead. Fleet managers and accountants tend to use "empty miles" because it captures the full picture of non-revenue driving for reporting and cost analysis.
Bobtail vs Deadhead
This is where the distinction gets practical and affects your wallet:
Deadhead
Tractor + empty trailer attached
- Higher fuel consumption (pulling trailer weight)
- Covered by standard liability insurance
- Empty trailers can be unstable in crosswinds
- More tire and brake wear than bobtail
Bobtail
Tractor only, no trailer
- Better fuel efficiency (lighter weight)
- May require separate bobtail insurance
- Shorter stopping distance but less rear-axle traction
- Common for owner-operators picking up/dropping trailers
Bobtail Insurance Gap
How Each Appears on Reports
Understanding how these mile types show up in your reporting systems helps you track costs accurately and make better business decisions:
ELD Systems
Most ELDs track loaded vs empty status. When you mark your status as "empty" after delivery, every mile until your next load counts as empty. ELDs typically don't distinguish between deadhead and bobtail - both show as "empty."
IFTA Reports
All miles count for fuel tax purposes, regardless of whether you're loaded or empty. IFTA doesn't care about deadhead vs bobtail - it only cares about total miles per jurisdiction and fuel purchased.
Profit Calculations
For accurate cost-per-mile calculations, you must account for all empty mile types. Your revenue per total mile (including empty) is the number that actually determines profitability, not revenue per loaded mile alone.
Fleet Management Reports
Larger fleets break down empty miles by type - deadhead, bobtail, repositioning, and personal use. This granularity helps fleet managers identify which type of empty mile is costing them the most and target it for reduction.
Why the Distinction Matters
It might seem like splitting hairs, but knowing the difference between deadhead, empty miles, and bobtail affects real decisions:
Insurance
Bobtail driving may require separate coverage that deadhead does not. If you're regularly dropping trailers at yards and driving your tractor to another location, you need bobtail insurance. Standard policies cover deadheading with a trailer attached.
Cost Calculation
Bobtailing uses less fuel per mile than pulling an empty trailer. If you're calculating your true cost per mile, lumping all empty miles together gives you an inaccurate number. A mile of bobtail costs roughly 15-20% less than a mile of deadhead.
Planning Strategies
Reducing deadhead requires better load planning and backhaul strategies. Reducing bobtail requires different tactics - like choosing drop-and-hook facilities closer to your next load, or negotiating power-only moves that eliminate trailer repositioning.
Reporting Accuracy
When you track empty mile types separately, you can see exactly where money is leaking. Maybe your deadhead is low but you're running excessive bobtail miles. That's a different problem with a different solution than high deadhead.
Track All Empty Mile Types Separately
Industry Usage Differences
Depending on who you're talking to, these terms mean slightly different things:
Owner-Operators
Most owner-operators use "deadhead" as a catch-all for any unpaid miles. When a driver says "I deadheaded 200 miles," they usually mean any combination of empty trailer or no trailer. It's the everyday term on the road.
Fleet Managers
Fleet operations distinguish between types for tracking and optimization. They'll break reports into deadhead, bobtail, repositioning, and personal use because each requires a different reduction strategy and has different cost implications.
Brokers
When a broker mentions "deadhead," they almost always mean the distance from your current location to the pickup. "How much deadhead to the shipper?" is broker-speak for pickup distance. They rarely use "empty miles" or "bobtail."
FMCSA / Regulatory
The FMCSA uses formal definitions for reporting purposes. In regulatory filings, total miles matter more than the type. IFTA and IRP filings require total miles per jurisdiction regardless of loaded or empty status.
Know Your Audience
Related Resources
What is Deadhead?
Full glossary entry with cost formulas and reduction strategies
Cost Per Mile
Calculate your true operating cost including empty miles
Owner Operator Costs
Full breakdown of operating expenses
Rate Negotiation Guide
Get better rates that account for deadhead costs
What is IFTA?
How fuel tax reporting handles all mile types
What is ELD?
How electronic logging tracks loaded vs empty miles
Deadhead vs Empty Miles FAQ
Common questions about the differences between deadhead, empty miles, and bobtail
Is bobtailing the same as deadheading?
No. Bobtailing is driving without a trailer. Deadheading is driving with an empty trailer. Both are unpaid miles, but they have different fuel costs and insurance implications.
How does insurance treat deadhead vs empty miles differently?
Standard liability covers both. However, bobtailing (no trailer) may require separate bobtail insurance. Your regular cargo insurance only applies when you're hauling freight.
Which term should I use when talking to brokers?
Use "deadhead" when discussing pickup distance or empty miles to a load. Brokers understand "deadhead" universally. "Empty miles" and "bobtail" are more internal/operational terms.
Are deadhead miles reported to FMCSA?
Not directly. However, total miles are reported through IFTA and IRP filings. Your ELD tracks loaded vs empty for your records.
Reduce Your Empty Miles
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