How Load Manager Calculates Deadhead Miles

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

Check the Settings

An administrator can review these 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 available and turned on, deadhead miles can be included in the load's total miles.

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

Calculate from the Carrier/Driver or from Equipment

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

1. Go to Settings > Configuration Options and set Calculate Deadhead Miles Using to Driver (to use the carrier or driver) or Equipment.
2. Open or create the load.
3. Assign the carrier or driver required for your TMS type, or select the equipment on the load.
4. Enter the pickup and delivery locations and dates.
5. Click Save.

Calculate from a Starting Address

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

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

Load Manager uses the starting address as the beginning point and the first pickup address as the ending point.

Enter Deadhead Miles Manually

1. Open the load and find the miles field near the carrier, driver, or equipment area.
2. Enter the deadhead miles value and click Save.

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

To go back to the automatic calculation, click the refresh icon next to the miles field, review the value, and save the load. The result depends on your company setup, the selected carrier or driver, the selected equipment, the first pickup location, and any starting address 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, then save the load.
• Total miles do not include deadhead miles: Ask an administrator to confirm Include DH Miles in Total Miles is available and turned on.

Related Articles

• Settings: Configuration Options Overview
• Load Screen Overview