Backhaul

Definition

A load found for the return leg, so the truck is not driving home empty.

Why It Matters

Revenue per mile is the number that decides whether a lane is worth running, and the return leg is where it is won or lost. A carrier with a dense enough customer base to fill the way back earns twice on the same fuel and the same driver hours; one without it is paying for half its miles. Ask for loaded miles against total miles by lane instead of for a revenue figure, because a strong revenue number on a poor backhaul ratio is a business that cannot grow without getting worse.