Companies implementing effective backhaul strategies can lower transportation costs by 9-15% while converting previously unprofitable empty miles into revenue-generating trips. Empty miles after a delivery cost you money in fuel, time, and wear on your truck. Many carriers use load boards to search, find, and select loads that keep their wheels moving. The challenge is finding the best backhaul load boards that help you reduce empty miles freight and book profitable return trips. Load boards for truckers are online marketplaces where you can find loads nearby that fit your equipment and route. Knowing how truckers find backhaul loads makes the difference between running at a loss and staying profitable. This piece covers what backhaul freight is, why it matters for your bottom line, and the top load boards that help you find paying loads on your way home.
Key Takeaways
Understanding and securing backhaul freight is essential for trucking profitability, as empty miles can erode 15-35% of potential revenue while backhaul loads turn cost centers into profit generators.
Critical insights for maximizing backhaul profitability:
• Empty miles are profit killers: The average carrier runs 28-35% empty miles, costing $0.17+ per mile in maintenance alone, plus fuel and lost revenue opportunities.
• Start your backhaul search early: Dispatchers who begin searching 90 minutes before delivery completion reduce deadhead by 20-40 miles compared to waiting until after drop-off.
• Top load boards offer distinct advantages: DAT One posts 722,500 daily loads with triangular routing tools, while TruckSmarter and DOFT provide 100% free access to 100,000+ verified loads.
• Build strategic broker relationships: Loads posted electronically get covered within 5-10 minutes, so successful carriers make 40-60 calls to build their broker pipeline and secure premium freight before it hits public boards.
• Target sub-15% deadhead rates: Top-performing carriers achieve deadhead percentages below 15% versus the industry average of 16.7% by planning triangular routes and focusing on profitable freight lanes with consistent reload opportunities.
What Is Backhaul in Freight and Why It Matters
“If you’re not being reimbursed for deadhead miles, that means paying for fuel out of pocket.” — Truckstop, Freight industry expert
Understanding Backhaul Freight
A backhaul refers to the load you haul on your return trip after delivering freight at your destination. The load you pick up in Atlanta to haul back toward Chicago becomes your backhaul when you drive from Chicago to Atlanta with a full load, which is your headhaul. Backhaul freight doesn’t always return to your exact starting point. It moves in the general direction of where your truck needs to go next, whether that’s your home terminal or your next pickup location.
Backhaul rates pay less per mile than headhaul rates. This happens because of supply and demand. Backhaul markets see more trucks arrive than freight moves out, so shippers have pricing power. While backhaul loads are less profitable than headhaul freight, they still generate revenue on a trip you’re making anyway.
Deadhead Miles Explained
Deadhead miles are miles you drive with an empty trailer attached to your truck. These miles occur when you drop off a load and travel to pick up another one without cargo. Don’t confuse deadheading with bobtailing, which means driving your tractor without any trailer hooked up.
Most trucking companies won’t pay for deadhead miles, so you cover fuel costs out of pocket. Empty miles account for 28 to 35 percent of total vehicle miles traveled for the average truckload carrier. Maintenance and repair costs add up too. These costs ran around $0.17 per mile in 2018. Beyond direct costs, deadhead miles take away time you could use to haul paying freight.
Deadheading also creates safety risks. Empty trailers are 2.5 times more likely to crash compared to loaded trucks. The weight distribution changes and makes the rig harder to control in bad weather, high winds, or slippery conditions.
Why Backhaul Loads Are Critical for Profitability
Every empty mile represents pure cost with zero revenue to offset it. Fuel consumption, driver pay, equipment wear, and insurance costs continue whether your trailer is loaded or empty. Carriers operating at 30 to 35 percent empty miles can see profit erosion reach 15 to 35 percent of potential revenue.
Backhaul loads turn cost centers into profit centers. A truck that would otherwise deadhead 500 miles can often find a backhaul load paying $1.50 to $2.50 per mile. Therefore, any revenue above the marginal cost of carrying the load represents profit. Companies can lower transportation costs between 9 and 15 percent through backhauls.
Best Load Boards for Backhaul Freight
“Finding capacity using Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching platform takes seconds, not minutes or hours.” — Trucker Tools, Provider of digital freight matching technology
DAT One
DAT One posts 722,500 loads every business day. The platform has TriHaul, a triangular routing tool that suggests backhaul opportunities and reduces deadhead miles. You get access to rate data based on actual invoices covering every lane in the country. The DAT One mobile app comes free with your subscription and lets you find backhaul loads from anywhere. Pricing starts at $54 per month for the Standard plan, $119 for Enhanced, $169 for Pro, and $239 for Select.
Truckstop.com
Truckstop.com integrates with Trucker Path and gives carriers access to more than 10 times the loads they saw previously. Every carrier accessing Truckstop freight must meet the same security and fraud prevention standards. The platform focuses on carrier vetting and broker quality controls to protect users.
Trucker Path TruckLoads
TruckLoads offers 150,000 daily loads with 100% free access. The platform has a Freight Finder feature designed for backhaul loads. You get broker credit scores, premium loads from shippers, and automatic load refreshes. The mobile app works on iOS and Android devices.
123Loadboard
123Loadboard provides access to over 100,000 truck loads daily. The platform has a Trip Builder tool to find backhauls and reduce empty miles. You can search freight by equipment type like van, flatbed, and reefer loads. The Rate Check tool helps you negotiate better rates before booking. More than 325,000 transportation professionals throughout North America use the platform.
TruckSmarter
TruckSmarter gives you 100% free access to over 100,000 daily loads from verified brokers. The platform claims 80% more posted rates than competing boards on many lanes. You can compare, bid on, and book loads without subscription fees.
Direct Freight Services
Direct Freight Services provides immediate load search with GPS-based truck locator features. The platform has broker credit checks and safety history before you accept loads. You get daily email and SMS alerts for your preferred lanes. Built-in tools estimate distance, fuel consumption, and toll costs.
DOFT Load Board
DOFT connects shippers with 360,000 vetted carriers. The platform offers smart backhaul matching to cut empty deadhead miles. Carriers can search and view loads for free with unlimited access. You filter loads by lane, deadhead radius, equipment type, and minimum rate per mile.
Key Features to Look for in Backhaul Load Boards
Real-Time Load Availability
Quick loading times matter when you’re bidding for competitive loads. The best backhaul load boards refresh in real time so you see new freight the moment brokers post it. Apps help more than 60 percent of carriers find loads, which means fast access gives you an edge over slower competitors.
Advanced Search Filters for Return Routes
You need filters that match your specific requirements. Look for boards that let you search by pickup point, destination, acceptable deadhead radius, trailer type, full or LTL load, and weight limits. Some platforms offer a one-click swap function to reverse origin and destination cities for backhaul searches. These filters narrow thousands of loads down to the handful that fit your truck and route.
Rate Transparency and Comparison Tools
Rate comparison tools show you changes in rates as they happen and let you measure against historical averages. This data helps you negotiate from a stronger position when you know the going rates for your lane.
Backhaul Finder and Load Suggestions
Platforms with backhaul-specific tools suggest loads based on your search patterns. Smart matching reduces the time you spend scrolling through irrelevant freight.
Mobile Access for On-the-Go Booking
Mobile apps let you book loads from truck stops, rest areas, or anywhere you have service. Fifty-nine percent of carriers check spot rates on mobile devices, and 58 percent use apps to get paid faster.
How Truckers Find Backhaul Loads That Maximize Profit
Plan Your Routes to Reduce Empty Miles
Search for return loads before you complete your delivery. Dispatchers who begin backhaul searches 90 minutes before delivery completion reduce deadhead by 20 to 40 miles compared to those who wait until after drop-off. Plan triangular routes instead of simple out-and-back trips. A Chicago-to-Atlanta-to-Dallas-to-Chicago circuit often provides better backhaul opportunities than a direct round trip.
Build Relationships with Brokers on Your Regular Lanes
Phone calls work better than emails to secure premium freight. Loads posted online get covered within 5 to 10 minutes. Carriers make 40 to 60 calls at the time they build their broker pipeline. Carriers with 95 percent or higher on-time delivery rates substantially increase their partnership opportunities.
Use Multiple Load Boards Strategically
Public boards work well to fill backhauls and test markets. Private boards provide consistency. Niche boards deliver high-margin outbound loads. Book your outbound load early in the week and secure your backhaul mid-week through public boards.
Focus on Profitable Freight Lanes
Top performers achieve deadhead percentages below 15 percent versus the industry average of 16.7 percent. Review lanes by asking what happens after delivery and whether reload freight exists in that market.
Partial Loads Fill Available Capacity
Partial loads help fill available trailer space at times full loads aren’t available. DAT posts 722,500 loads daily, and carriers can toggle between partial or full truckloads.
Conclusion
Empty miles cost you money every day. The right load board turns those unprofitable deadhead trips into paying freight. Start with one or two platforms that match your regular routes and build relationships with brokers who post consistent backhaul opportunities. Your bottom line will thank you once you cut empty miles from 35 percent down to 15 percent or less.
FAQs
Q1. How can I find backhaul loads efficiently?
You can find backhaul loads by using load boards with advanced search features that let you filter by pickup location, destination, equipment type, and deadhead radius. Start searching for return loads about 90 minutes before completing your delivery to reduce empty miles and secure profitable freight on your return trip.
Q2. What is the difference between deadhead miles and backhaul freight?
Deadhead miles are miles driven with an empty trailer, generating zero revenue while you still pay for fuel and maintenance. Backhaul freight refers to loads you haul on your return trip after a delivery, which generates revenue and helps offset costs that would otherwise come out of pocket during empty miles.
Q3. Which load board offers the highest freight volume for carriers?
DAT One offers the highest freight volume with 722,500 loads posted every business day. The platform provides access to extensive rate data, a mobile app for on-the-go booking, and specialized tools like TriHaul for finding backhaul opportunities to reduce deadhead miles.
Q4. Why do backhaul loads typically pay less than headhaul loads?
Backhaul loads pay less per mile due to supply and demand dynamics. In backhaul markets, more trucks arrive than freight moves out, giving shippers more pricing power. However, backhaul loads still generate revenue on trips you’re making anyway, turning cost centers into profit centers.
Q5. What percentage of empty miles should carriers aim for to maximize profitability?
Top-performing carriers achieve deadhead percentages below 15 percent, compared to the industry average of 28 to 35 percent. Reducing empty miles from 35 percent to 15 percent or less can significantly improve profitability, as empty miles can erode potential revenue by 15 to 35 percent.
