3 ways to reduce your fleet’s empty miles

Empty miles, also known as dead miles, occur when your vehicles travel without a load. For haulage companies, this leads to wasted fuel, unnecessary driver wages, and environmental harm. Reducing these empty return journeys will help you save money, increase efficiency, and reduce your carbon footprint.

In this guide, we’ll share three practical ways to reduce empty miles in your fleet by securing return haulage loads.

Why reducing empty miles matters

Every time your vehicles run empty, your business loses money. Fuel costs continue to rise, and dead miles add to driver wages without bringing in revenue. Over time, this waste can significantly affect your bottom line.

Also, the environmental impact of empty return journeys shouldn’t be ignored. Fewer empty trips mean fewer emissions, making your business greener and aligning with efforts like using sustainable fuels. Reducing dead miles is a win-win for your budget and the planet.

Now, let’s look at three ways to tackle this problem.

1. Plan routes with your existing customers

The first way to reduce empty miles is by planning routes more efficiently with your existing customers.

When possible, coordinate delivery and collection schedules with them so your vehicles return with a load. This approach works well for clients with regular shipments and fixed routes, especially during periods of seasonal demand.

However, it’s not easy. It requires a lot of communication and careful planning. In some cases, your customers might not have return loads available when you need them. And if your routes frequently change, it can make fleet management more difficult without the right tools.

So while this method can cut down on empty return journeys, it’s not always reliable or sustainable in the long run.

2. Find more customers

Another option is to increase your customer base. More clients mean more opportunities to find extra work, including return loads.

This approach can help reduce empty miles by filling those empty legs with new jobs. It also helps diversify your revenue streams, which can be useful during quieter periods or when your regular customers don’t have enough work to keep your vehicles busy.

But finding new customers comes with its own challenges. It’s time-consuming and often requires marketing and sales efforts. You’ll need to build relationships, negotiate rates, and possibly take on smaller jobs that aren’t always worth the effort.

Many haulage companies have found success with tools like carrier management software, which makes it easier to manage new customers and subcontractors.

Even then, managing a larger customer base requires more resources and staff time.

3. Use Haulage Exchange to find return loads easily

The easiest and most efficient way to reduce empty miles is by using Haulage Exchange (HX).

HX connects haulage companies with thousands of available loads across the UK. When your drivers complete a delivery, they can quickly find a return load using the HX app or platform. This not only reduces dead miles but also increases your profit per trip.

HX makes it simple for both fleet managers and drivers to find haulage return loads.

Drivers can use the app on the go to search for nearby loads that need to be delivered to their destination. With geo-location features, they can see available jobs in real time, helping them make quick decisions and avoid unnecessary empty miles.

Fleet managers, on the other hand, can track their vehicles and plan routes using HX’s live map, ensuring that no truck returns home empty.

Using a platform like HX also cuts down on the administrative burden.

Instead of constantly searching for work or negotiating with clients, HX enables you to access a wide network of shippers and hauliers, saving you time and money. It’s particularly useful for businesses managing medium to large fleets, including a mix of courier vans and HGVs.

Plus, you’ll have access to extra features like Freight Vision, which allows you to track freight in real-time, improving overall efficiency.

The environmental benefit of cutting empty miles

Reducing dead miles isn’t just good for your business—it’s also better for the environment.

Haulage companies are under increasing pressure to adopt greener practices, whether through sustainable fuels or simply cutting down on fuel waste. By reducing the number of empty return journeys your fleet makes, you’ll lower your carbon footprint.

This can also improve your company’s reputation, particularly with businesses looking for eco-friendly partners.

If you’ve achieved FORS accreditation, cutting down on empty miles helps you maintain your credentials by reducing your environmental impact and showing that you’re serious about sustainability.

Customers are becoming more conscious of the environmental footprint of their deliveries, so reducing dead miles can help you stand out from the competition.

Final thoughts

Reducing empty miles is one of the most effective ways to save money and improve the efficiency of your fleet.

While planning routes with existing customers and finding new clients are both helpful, they can be difficult to manage. The most reliable solution is using Haulage Exchange, which simplifies the process and helps you find return loads quickly and easily.

Whether you run a few vehicles or manage a large fleet, HX can help you cut down on empty return journeys, increase your revenue, and reduce your environmental impact.