Backhaul Strategies for Truckers
Backhaul freight is the #1 deadhead killer. Here are 6 ways to find return loads and keep your truck earning on every leg of every trip.
O Trucking Editorial Team
Trucking Industry Experts
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years booking backhaul freight across all equipment types
This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingBackhaul Strategies for Truckers: Find Return Freight & Cut Deadhead
What Is a Backhaul?
A backhaul is freight you pick up for the return trip after delivering your primary (headhaul) load. Instead of driving home empty, you haul paying freight back toward your origin or next pickup area.
Headhaul (Primary Load)
The outbound freight that starts your trip. Headhaul loads typically pay the highest rate per mile because they run on high-demand lanes where shippers are competing for truck capacity.
Example: Dallas to Atlanta at $2.50/mi
Backhaul (Return Load)
Freight you pick up at or near your delivery point heading back toward home or your next headhaul origin. Backhaul rates are lower because fewer shippers need freight moved out of delivery-heavy markets.
Example: Atlanta to Dallas at $1.90/mi
The economics are simple: every mile your truck moves without freight costs you money in fuel, maintenance, and opportunity. A backhaul turns that cost center into revenue. Even a lower-paying backhaul is almost always better than running empty. For a deeper look at what empty miles cost, see our deadhead glossary entry.
Why Backhaul Is the #1 Deadhead Killer
The math makes the case better than any argument. Compare two identical trucks running the same headhaul lane — one books a backhaul, the other deadheads home.
With Backhaul
Revenue on both legs
Without Backhaul
300 mi deadhead home
The backhaul driver earned $900 more and made $0.59/mi more on total miles
That is $900 in revenue the deadhead driver left on the table — while still burning fuel, wearing tires, and losing a day of driving time.
6 Ways to Find Backhaul Freight
Pre-Book Through Your Dispatcher
Your dispatcher knows your delivery ETA and can start searching for return freight before you even arrive. A good dispatch service pre-books backhauls 24-48 hours ahead so you never sit waiting after unload.
Tip: Give your dispatcher your delivery appointment time as early as possible. The more lead time they have, the better the backhaul rate.
Load Boards (DAT, Truckstop)
Search load boards by your delivery ZIP code as the origin. DAT and Truckstop both let you filter by pickup radius, equipment type, and destination. Sort by rate per mile and call on loads departing within your delivery timeframe.
Tip: Set up saved searches for your most common delivery areas. DAT's lane analytics show historical backhaul availability and rates by market.
Direct Broker Relationships
Tell your regular brokers which cities you deliver to and when. Many brokers specialize in specific markets and can offer you consistent backhaul freight if they know your schedule. This works best on recurring lanes.
Tip: After delivering a load, call the booking broker and ask: 'Do you have anything going back toward [your preferred area]?' They may not have posted it yet.
Shipper Relationships
The best backhauls come from direct shipper contracts. If you deliver to a warehouse district regularly, visit the shipping docks and ask if they need outbound carriers. Dedicated backhaul contracts eliminate the guesswork entirely.
Tip: Bring business cards to every delivery. The shipping manager at your delivery point may also be looking for reliable outbound carriers.
Load Matching Apps (Uber Freight)
Digital freight platforms use algorithms to match available trucks with nearby loads. Set your preferences for equipment type, destination, and minimum rate. The apps send push notifications when matching backhaul loads post near your delivery area.
Tip: Enable location-based notifications before you deliver. Some apps offer instant booking, so you can secure a backhaul before you even unload.
Triangular Routing (A to B to C to A)
Instead of running A to B and deadheading home, plan a triangle: A to B to C to A. You pick up a load at B going to C, then a load at C going back to A. This eliminates deadhead across a multi-stop trip and can increase revenue per total mile by 25-40%.
Tip: Map your top 5 delivery cities and research what freight moves outbound from each. Build 3-4 reliable triangular routes you can repeat weekly.
Backhaul Rate Expectations
Backhaul rates are typically 10-30% lower than headhaul rates on the same lane. This discount exists because of demand imbalance — more trucks deliver into consumption markets (cities) than there is outbound freight leaving those markets.
| Lane Example | Headhaul | Backhaul | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA to Dallas | $2.60/mi | $2.10/mi | -19% |
| Chicago to Atlanta | $2.45/mi | $1.85/mi | -24% |
| NJ to Miami | $2.70/mi | $1.95/mi | -28% |
| Dallas to Houston | $2.30/mi | $2.05/mi | -11% |
When to Accept a Lower Backhaul vs Deadhead
The break-even calculation is straightforward: if the backhaul revenue exceeds your variable cost per mile (fuel + wear), the backhaul wins. At current diesel prices ($3.50/gal) and 6.5 MPG, your fuel cost alone is roughly $0.54/mile. Add tire wear, maintenance, and opportunity cost, and most trucks need at least $0.80-$1.00/mile to break even on a backhaul.
Any backhaul paying above your variable cost is money you would not have earned otherwise. A $1.50/mile backhaul on a 300-mile run puts $450 in your pocket instead of $0. That is $450 for driving miles you were going to drive anyway.
When a Low Backhaul Beats Deadhead
Building Consistent Backhaul Lanes
One-off backhauls help, but consistent backhaul lanes transform your business. When you know there is always freight waiting at your delivery market, you can bid headhauls more aggressively because your total trip revenue is predictable.
1Identify Your Regular Delivery Areas
Look at your last 30 days of loads. Where do you deliver most often? Those are your backhaul origin markets. If 60% of your deliveries go to Atlanta, that is where your backhaul strategy should focus first.
2Research Outbound Freight From Those Areas
Use DAT's lane analytics or Truckstop's rate tools to see what freight moves outbound from your delivery markets. Look for freight heading toward your home base or your next headhaul origin. Note seasonal patterns — some backhaul lanes only work during specific months.
3Build Relationships With Local Brokers and Shippers
Once you know which brokers and shippers move outbound freight from your delivery areas, reach out directly. Tell them your delivery schedule: "I deliver in Atlanta every Tuesday and Thursday. I need outbound freight heading west." Reliability is your selling point — they get a known carrier on a consistent schedule.
4Develop Seasonal Lane Awareness
Backhaul availability changes with the seasons. Produce season (spring/summer) creates outbound freight from agricultural regions. Holiday retail (fall) fills outbound freight from distribution centers. Construction season (spring-fall) moves materials regionally. Track these patterns and adjust your lanes quarterly.
Use Your Headhaul Leverage
Backhaul by Equipment Type
Dry Van
The most freight moves by dry van, so backhaul options are plentiful in nearly every market. Competition keeps rates moderate, but availability means less deadhead risk.
Reefer
Produce seasons (April-July) create massive backhaul opportunities from agricultural regions. California, Florida, and Texas produce outbound reefer freight year-round. Off-season, run dead-head reefer as dry van for more options.
Flatbed
Construction materials and steel create regional backhaul clusters. Delivering to a construction zone? Look for outbound materials from nearby lumber yards, steel distributors, or manufacturers.
Power Only
Power-only backhauls include intermodal container moves, trailer repositioning, and drop-and-hook at distribution centers. Less loading time means faster turns even at slightly lower rates.
When to Skip a Backhaul
Backhauls are almost always worth taking — but not always. Here are the situations where deadheading or repositioning empty may be the smarter move.
Rate Is Below Your Variable Cost
If the backhaul pays less than your fuel and operating cost per mile (roughly $0.80-$1.00/mi for most trucks), you are literally paying to haul someone else's freight. This is rare but happens on ultra-short or ultra-low-rate loads. Do the math before accepting anything under $1.00/mile.
Takes You Away From a Better Headhaul Market
A backhaul that takes you 200 miles in the wrong direction might cost you a premium headhaul the next day. If the backhaul destination has weak outbound freight, you could end up stuck in a low-rate market. Always think one load ahead: where does this backhaul position me for my next headhaul?
Loading Delays Waste More Than the Backhaul Earns
A $1.50/mile backhaul that requires a 12-hour wait to load is not worth it if you could deadhead 3 hours to a market with $2.50/mile headhaul freight available same-day. Time is your most valuable asset. A fast deadhead to a hot market can outperform a slow backhaul to a cold one.
Watch for the Deadhead Spiral
How Our Dispatchers Find Backhauls
As a dispatch service that books loads daily, finding backhaul freight is one of the most impactful things we do for our carriers. Here is how we approach it:
We start searching before you deliver
When we book your headhaul, we immediately start looking for backhaul freight from the delivery area. By the time you arrive at the receiver, we often have 2-3 backhaul options ready. This eliminates sitting time and keeps your truck moving. Pre-booked backhauls also tend to pay 5-10% more than last-minute loads.
We build lane-specific broker relationships
For every market our carriers deliver to regularly, we develop relationships with brokers who specialize in outbound freight from that area. This gives our carriers priority access to backhaul loads that may not even hit load boards. Dedicated relationships also mean faster booking and fewer surprises.
We calculate total trip revenue, not just per-load rate
We evaluate backhauls based on how they affect your total trip economics — not just the backhaul rate alone. A slightly lower-paying backhaul that positions you perfectly for a premium headhaul the next day is often worth more than a higher backhaul to a dead market. We think one load ahead so you are always in position.
Backhaul FAQ
Common questions about finding and evaluating backhaul freight
What's a fair backhaul rate?
Typically 10-30% below headhaul rates for the same lane. A $2.50/mi headhaul lane might see $1.80-2.25/mi backhaul. The discount reflects the demand imbalance — more trucks need to return from delivery markets than there is freight going out. Even at 30% below headhaul, a backhaul almost always beats deadheading home empty.
Can I book backhauls in advance?
Yes, especially on consistent lanes. Tell your dispatcher or broker your delivery schedule and they can pre-book return freight 24-48 hours ahead. Pre-booked backhauls typically pay 5-10% more than last-minute loads because you offer the shipper schedule certainty. The key is communicating your delivery ETA as early as possible.
Which load boards are best for finding backhaul?
DAT and Truckstop both allow searching by origin (your delivery area). DAT's lane analytics show backhaul availability by market, including historical rate data and truck-to-load ratios. Truckstop offers similar filtering. For digital-first options, Uber Freight pushes nearby loads to your phone automatically based on your GPS location.
Can I negotiate backhaul rates with the same broker?
Yes. Offering a round-trip gives brokers value — they get reliable capacity for two loads instead of one. Frame it as: 'I can do your outbound at $X if you have a return load at $Y.' Many brokers will discount the headhaul slightly if you commit to taking their backhaul, because it saves them the cost of finding a second carrier.
What is triangular routing?
Instead of A to B then deadheading back to A, you go A to B to C to A, picking up loads at each stop. This reduces total deadhead across a multi-stop trip. For example: pick up in Dallas (A), deliver in Atlanta (B), pick up a load going to Nashville (C), then pick up a load from Nashville back to Dallas (A). You earn revenue on three legs instead of one.
We Find Backhaul Before You Deliver
Our dispatchers pre-book return freight so you're never driving empty. We search for backhaul loads the moment your headhaul is booked.