The cost of empty return trips and practical ways to find return loads

Every kilometre a truck drives empty carries the cost of fuel, driver, tyres and depreciation without earning anything. Planning the way back is therefore as important as finding the outbound load.

Calculate the cost with your own figures

Your cost per kilometre is total vehicle expenses for a period divided by total kilometres driven in that period. For example, if your cost is 1 euro per kilometre, a 600 km empty return costs you 600 euros. That amount comes straight off the profit from the outbound load.

Detour, not distance

The most common mistake when looking for a return load is to pick the load closest to where the truck is now. The real question is: how far does this load take me off my route home?

• A load 30 km away that goes in the opposite direction makes your return longer.
• A load 120 km away that sits right on your route adds almost no extra driving.

That is why the return load mode on Order And Load ranks listings by detour: when you select the vehicle's position and your home base, the loads that add the fewest extra kilometres come first.

Plan the return in advance

1. When you accept an outbound load, look at load density around the unloading area.
2. A day before unloading, publish the truck as a free vehicle listing so shippers can reach you.
3. If you cannot find a full load, consider filling the truck partly with part loads.
4. On lanes you run regularly, look for long-term agreements with shippers.

Cutting empty kilometres to zero is not always possible, but every kilometre saved goes straight to profit.