GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jul 19, 2026
Backhaul
A truck delivers its load in Milan – and instead of returning empty to Switzerland, it picks up a backhaul.
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Source: https://mhv.systems/lexikon/ruckladung
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Definition & Explanation
A truck delivers its load in Milan – and instead of returning empty to Switzerland, it picks up a backhaul. A backhaul (German: Rückladung) is freight that a vehicle transports on its way back from a delivery in order to avoid empty runs and increase vehicle utilisation. For carriers, fixed costs such as fuel, tolls and personnel are spread across two paid orders; for shippers, conditions are often cheaper because the truck is travelling anyway. Backhauls are secured through stable partnerships on recurring routes or at short notice via a freight exchange on the spot market. Especially in freight-driven market phases, when more loads than available trucks are on offer and spot rates exceed contract rates, disciplined backhaul planning in dispatching becomes a decisive margin factor. Not to be confused with a part load (co-load), where additional partial consignments are carried on a tour that is planned anyway.
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⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020
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