# empty trip

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> An empty trip – also called dead mileage or empty running – occurs when a vehicle travels without cargo, typically on the return leg after delivery or while repositioning between assignments.

An empty trip – also called dead mileage or empty running – occurs when a vehicle travels without cargo, typically on the return leg after delivery or while repositioning between assignments. All operating costs continue to accrue: fuel, driver wages, and vehicle wear, with no freight revenue to offset them. The share of empty kilometres in a fleet's total mileage is tracked as the empty rate, a standard efficiency metric in transport planning. Back-haul platforms and transport management systems address the problem by matching available return capacity to suitable loads. In container logistics, the equivalent challenge is the repositioning of empty containers, which generates significant cost for carriers and shippers alike.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadheading_(transportation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadheading_(transportation))

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | empty trip |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 111 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadheading_(transportation) |

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