What is empty running or deadhead in logistics and how is it measured?
Empty running, or deadhead, is distance driven without a load. Measure it as empty kilometres divided by total kilometres, multiplied by 100. It shows how much driving earns no revenue but still consumes fuel, time and wear.
It matters because return legs and positioning moves can quietly take a large share of cost.
Commonly misread:
- Some empty running is unavoidable, such as returning from a one-way delivery. The aim is to reduce the avoidable part.
- Counting a partly loaded return as fully loaded or fully empty.
- Measuring by distance only, when empty time waiting is also a loss.
Capture load status in tracking or trip records. Then look at backload opportunities, route clustering and where pick-ups can be combined to reduce empty kilometres.
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