How Load Manager Calculates Deadhead Miles

Before You Use This Article

• Access needed: Load Manager login and permission to use this screen, report, setting, or workflow.
• Best starting path: Start from Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services based on your company type.
• If this is not your setup: If this is not your company type, choose Freight Brokers, Carriers, Owner-Operators, and Trucking Companies, or Dispatch Services.

Deadhead miles are the empty miles before a pickup. Load Manager can calculate deadhead miles automatically from prior load activity, calculate them from a starting address, or let you enter the miles manually when you need to override the system calculation.

Before You Start

Your company setup controls which deadhead options are available on the load screen. An administrator can review these options under Settings > Configuration Options.

• Show Deadhead Miles: Makes deadhead miles available for load tracking and load lists.
• Calculate Deadhead Miles Using: Chooses whether automatic deadhead miles are based on Equipment or the Driver option.
• Include DH Miles in Total Miles: When this option is available and turned on, deadhead miles can be included in the load's total miles.

Depending on your TMS type, the driver/carrier area may be labeled differently. Freight Broker and Dispatch Service accounts usually assign a carrier on the load, while Carrier/Trucking accounts assign a driver.

Ways Deadhead Miles Can Be Calculated

Load Manager can calculate or store deadhead miles in four ways:

1. Automatically from the assigned carrier, carrier/driver, or driver, depending on your TMS type.
2. Automatically from the equipment selected on the load.
3. From a deadhead starting address entered on the load.
4. From a manual miles value entered by the user.

Calculate from the Carrier or Driver

Use this option when the carrier or driver assignment should determine the starting point for deadhead miles.

1. Go to Settings > Configuration Options.
2. Set Calculate Deadhead Miles Using to Driver.
3. Open or create the load.
4. Assign the carrier or driver required for your TMS type.
5. Enter the pickup and delivery locations and dates.
6. Click Save.

Load Manager looks for the most recent eligible delivered or completed load for that carrier or driver, then calculates the distance from that prior delivery location to the first pickup on the current load.

Calculate from Equipment

Use this option when the selected equipment should determine the starting point for deadhead miles.

1. Go to Settings > Configuration Options.
2. Set Calculate Deadhead Miles Using to Equipment.
3. Open or create the load.
4. Select the equipment on the load.
5. Enter the pickup and delivery locations and dates.
6. Click Save.

Load Manager looks for the most recent eligible delivered or completed load that used the selected equipment, then calculates the distance from that prior delivery location to the first pickup on the current load.

Calculate from a Starting Address

Use a starting address when you know the exact location where the truck, driver, carrier, or equipment will begin before the pickup.

1. Open or create the load.
2. Enter the first pickup information.
3. Click the deadhead starting-address button near the miles area.
4. Enter the address, city, state, ZIP code, and country for the starting location.
5. Click Calculate.
6. Review the calculated miles, then click Save.

Load Manager uses the starting address as the beginning point and the first pickup address as the ending point for that load's deadhead calculation.

Enter Deadhead Miles Manually

Use manual entry when you already know the deadhead miles or need to override the automatic calculation for a specific load.

1. Open the load.
2. Find the miles field near the carrier, driver, or equipment area.
3. Enter the deadhead miles value.
4. Click Save.

A manual value stays on the load until it is changed or recalculated.

Recalculate Automatic Miles

If a manual value was entered and you want Load Manager to calculate the miles again, click the refresh icon next to the miles field, review the recalculated value, and save the load.

The recalculated value depends on the company setup, the selected carrier or driver, the selected equipment, the first pickup location, and any starting address entered on the load.

Troubleshooting

• Deadhead miles did not calculate: Confirm the load has a first pickup location and that the carrier, driver, equipment, or starting address required by your setup is filled in.
• The miles look incorrect: Review the prior delivered or completed load used for the calculation, the selected equipment, and the first pickup address.
• The manual value keeps showing: Use the refresh icon to recalculate the miles, then save the load.
• The field label looks different: The label can vary by TMS type and company setup. Freight Broker and Dispatch Service accounts commonly work from the carrier area, while Carrier/Trucking accounts commonly work from the driver area.
• Total miles do not include deadhead miles: Ask an administrator to confirm whether Include DH Miles in Total Miles is available and turned on for your account.

Related Articles

• Settings: Configuration Options Overview
• Load Screen Overview
• Add Equipment Type for Carriers and Loads
• How to Dispatch a Load: Beginner Workflow