Backhaul is the transportation of cargo or freight from point B to point A via truck or rail. Backhauling is an economically viable strategy for eliminating or reducing empty truck miles, as the more money a carrier loses on overhead costs the longer a truck travels without freight. During a backhaul journey, the truck transports freight over all or part of the driver's original route, as they will be traveling that way anyway.
When it comes to backhauls, both freight brokers and motor carriers rely significantly on one another. In the trucking sector, they are also referred to as "deadheads" at times. Furthermore, the advantages of backhauling extend beyond scheduling truck journeys to complete segments at a time. Planning shipments efficiently reduces fuel waste, resulting in savings and less environmental impact. It also enhances operational efficiency by making the best use of units and labor, which increases production and profits.
