# empty trip

*Last updated: 2026-07-18*

> An empty trip is a vehicle journey undertaken without any payload – typically the return leg after a delivery or a positioning run to the next loading point.

An empty trip is a vehicle journey undertaken without any payload – typically the return leg after a delivery or a positioning run to the next loading point. It is one of the core inefficiency problems in road freight: driver time, fuel, and vehicle wear accumulate without any offsetting revenue. Carriers address the issue through route optimisation software, freight exchanges, and network consolidation strategies. In sustainability reporting, empty kilometres are a direct contributor to a fleet's CO₂ footprint and are tracked as a standard key performance indicator alongside load factor and vehicle utilisation.

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

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | empty trip |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 93 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-18 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadheading |

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*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/empty-trip-2](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/empty-trip-2)*

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