Allow me to ask a follow-up question of the group. Why is it, please, so important to know about your deadhead/empty miles? Perhaps I'm looking at all wrong.
When we receive a load offer we immediately add the empty (deadhead) and loaded miles together. We refer to the sum as "all miles." We then divide the "all miles" figure into the offered run pay to come up with our pay per mile. The Pay per mile is then used in making our decision to accept or decline the load. Note that we run with a carrier that pays a percentage of the load, not a fixed per-mile rate as some carriers do.
Being paid as we do, it matters little to us whether we're running empty or loaded. It matters only that we're running profitably.
Consider the following hypothetical examples:
RUN OFFER A:
800 miles loaded
200 miles deadhead
All miles: 1,000
Loaded pay: $1.25 per mile
Deadhead pay: $0.20 per mile after the first 100 miles
Total pay: $1,020
Pay per mile, all miles: $1.02
RUN OFFER B:
500 miles loaded
500 miles deadhead
All miles: 1,000
Loaded pay: 1.88 per mile
Deadhead pay: $0.20 per mile after the first 100 miles
Total pay: $1,020
Pay per mile, all miles: $1.02
For purposes of discussion, assume each load weighs 100 pounds so the additional weight of the loaded miles is not a factor.
In the above two scenerios, which one is the best load and why?
My answer is either load is just as good because the all miles, total pay, and pay per mile is identical. If there is another answer that makes more sense, I'd sure like to know what it is. Driver preoccupation with deahdead miles continues to perplex me; though I can understand where it would be an issue for drivers that are paid a flat per-loaded-mile rate.