Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Fuel cost of deadhead run
$65.83
Gallons burned
16.7
Fuel cost per deadhead mile
$0.549
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How to use this
- 1Enter deadhead miles (mi).
- 2Enter empty (unloaded) mpg (mpg).
- 3Enter diesel price ($/gal).
- 4Read your fuel cost of deadhead run on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Beyond the lost opportunity cost, deadhead miles have a direct, easy-to-quantify fuel bill attached to them. This calculator isolates just the fuel cost of your empty miles — separate from the broader deadhead-impact revenue analysis — using your truck's loaded and empty MPG (trucks typically get better mileage empty) and current diesel price. It's a fast gut-check for whether it's worth taking a slightly lower-paying backhaul 40 miles out of the way versus running 90 empty miles home, when the fuel cost alone of those empty miles can exceed the rate difference between two backhaul options.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Deadhead miles: 120 mi
- Empty (unloaded) MPG: 7.2 mpg
- Diesel price: 3.95 $/gal
Results
- Fuel cost of deadhead run: $65.83
- Gallons burned: 16.7
- Fuel cost per deadhead mile: $0.549
What each field means
Inputs
- Deadhead miles (mi)
- The deadhead miles used in the calculation, measured in mi. Starts at 120 mi so you have a working example on load.
- Empty (unloaded) MPG (mpg)
- The empty (unloaded) mpg used in the calculation, measured in mpg. Starts at 7.2 mpg so you have a working example on load.
- Diesel price ($/gal)
- The diesel price used in the calculation, measured in $/gal. Starts at 3.95 $/gal so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Fuel cost of deadhead run
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Gallons burned
- Returned as a decimal number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Fuel cost per deadhead mile
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why is empty MPG usually higher than loaded MPG?
Less weight means less rolling resistance and less engine load to maintain speed, so most Class 8 trucks see 0.5-1.5 MPG better fuel economy empty versus loaded, depending on trailer type and terrain.
How do I use this to compare backhaul options?
Calculate the fuel cost for each option's deadhead-to-pickup distance, subtract it from that load's revenue, and compare net figures side by side — sometimes the 'better rate' backhaul actually nets less once you account for the longer empty run to reach it.
Does this replace the full cost-per-mile calculation?
No, this only isolates fuel — it ignores wear, tires, and time value of the empty miles. Use the deadhead-percentage-impact calculator for the fuller revenue and cost picture; use this one for a quick fuel-only gut check.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Empty Mile Fuel Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/empty-mile-fuel-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/empty-mile-fuel-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Empty Mile Fuel Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Empty Mile Fuel Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/empty-mile-fuel-cost) (2026).