Freight glossary / Operations and dispatch
What is Deadhead in freight?
Deadhead is the distance a truck travels empty, usually between delivering one load and picking up the next. Those miles burn fuel and hours of service without generating revenue, so carriers price them into what they will accept for a load. A broker who can reduce a carrier's deadhead can usually buy the lane cheaper than the market.
Related terms
Most freight software watches your business. FreightScout wins freight and then runs it.