What Are Loaded Miles?
Loaded miles are miles for which the customer is paying. These miles are calculated when orders are created and include all driving done while hauling customer freight. Loaded miles directly impact your revenue since customers pay for these miles.
In 10 Speed TMS, loaded miles include:
Pick-up to delivery routes
What Are Empty Miles?
Empty miles are miles when the truck is driving without an attached trailer ("bobtailing") or when the truck is driving with an empty trailer. Usually the customer is not paying for empty miles, though they still represent a cost to your operation.
Empty miles occur when:
Moving from one order's final destination to the next order's pickup location
Deadheading
Why This Matters
The distinction between empty and loaded miles is important because:
Driver Compensation: In some cases, driver's compensation is different for empty versus loaded miles
Profitability: One of the main goals for any logistics company is to minimise empty miles, which means better revenue and lower operating costs
Environmental Impact: Fewer empty miles means lower CO2 emissions and a smaller carbon footprint
Operational Efficiency: Tracking empty miles helps identify opportunities for better route planning and load optimisation
How Miles Are Calculated
The Calculation Method
10 Speed TMS uses a straightforward method to determine empty versus loaded miles:
Loaded miles: Everything within an order (from first pickup to final delivery, including any stops in between)
Empty miles: The distance between the last stop of one order and the first stop of the next order, also additional stops that goes before first pickup or after last delivery in the leg
Important Calculation Notes
⚠️ Important: Empty miles calculations are automatic based on order sequence. Manual route changes may affect mileage accuracy.
Empty miles may include both bobtailing (no trailer) and deadhead (empty trailer)
Mileage is calculated using the routing engine configured in your system (i.e. PC Miler)
The system calculates the most direct route between points
If you rearrange orders in dispatch, mileage recalculates automatically
💡 Tip: Minimising the gap between order sequences reduces empty miles and improves profitability.
Where to View Mileage Information
1. Dispatch Screen
You can see both loaded and empty miles directly in the dispatch screen:
Steps:
Navigate to the Dispatch screen (located on the right side navigation)
Select a driver who is delivering a leg
Click on the specific leg you want to review
The details panel will show both empty and loaded miles for that leg
What you'll see: Leg details including loaded miles, empty miles, and total miles for the route segment.
2. Unreleased Orders Screen
You can view loaded miles before orders are finalised:
Steps:
Select Billing from the navigation menu
Click on To release
Look at the Loaded Miles column in the orders list
This shows loaded miles for each order
What you'll see: Loaded miles for orders that haven't been released yet, allowing you to verify calculations before finalising.
3. Unbilled Orders Screen
When reviewing orders for billing, you can access detailed mileage information:
Steps:
Select Billing from the navigation
Click on To bill (opened by default)
Select an order and click to open the details
Navigate to the Mileage Information section
Review both loaded and empty miles with detailed breakdown
What you'll see: Complete mileage details including loaded miles, empty miles, and how they were calculated based on stops.
Real-World Examples
Example: Sequential Orders with Empty Miles
Context: A driver completes deliveries and moves to pick up the next load Scenario:
Order #1: Pickup in Boston, deliver to New York City (220 loaded miles)
Distance from NYC to next pickup in Philadelphia: 95 miles (empty)
Order #2: Pickup in Philadelphia, deliver to Baltimore (100 loaded miles)
Calculation:
Order #1 loaded miles: 220
Order #2 loaded miles: 100, empty miles 95
Result: For order #2 The driver is compensated for 100 loaded miles and 95 empty miles. The 95 empty miles represent deadhead that reduces overall trip profitability.
💡 Tip: If you could find a pickup closer to NYC (instead of Philadelphia), you'd reduce empty miles and increase efficiency.
Troubleshooting
Empty Miles Seem Incorrect
Symptoms: The empty miles shown don't match the expected distance between order locations Cause: This can happen if:
Orders are not in the correct sequence in your dispatch board
Route settings or the routing engine is using different parameters
Manual route modifications were made
Solution:
Verify the order sequence in your dispatch board
Check that the routing engine settings are correct
Confirm pickup and delivery addresses are accurate
Miles recalculates when leg is started and completed
If this doesn't work: Contact support to review the routing configuration for your account.
Loaded Miles Don't Match Expected Distance
Symptoms: The loaded miles calculation seems too high or too low Cause:
Additional stops may have been added to the order
Route settings or the routing engine is using different parameters
Solution:
Review all stops in the order to confirm the route
If this doesn't work: The routing engine may be using different parameters. Contact support to review your specific order.
Mileage Not Updating After Route Changes
Symptoms: You've changed the route but mileage still shows old values Cause: The system may not have refreshed the calculation yet Solution:
Save your changes and refresh the page
Navigate away and back to the dispatch screen
If using manual routing, ensure changes are saved
Try logging out and back in to force a refresh
Important Notes
⚠️ Important Considerations:
Empty miles calculations are automatic based on order sequence—you don't need to calculate them manually
Reducing empty miles is a key performance indicator (KPI) for fleet efficiency
Driver compensation formulas may treat empty and loaded miles differently depending on your company's policies
The system uses the most efficient route between points based on your routing engine configuration
Historical changes to routes won't retroactively change already-settled mileage
Summary
Empty and loaded miles are fundamental metrics in logistics that directly impact your profitability and driver compensation. Loaded miles generate revenue and are what customers pay for, while empty miles are a necessary cost of operations that should be minimised. 10 Speed TMS automatically calculates both types by tracking your order sequences—loaded miles include all stops within an order, and empty miles are the distance between orders.
By regularly monitoring these metrics and optimising your routing to reduce empty miles, you can improve operational efficiency, increase profitability, and reduce your environmental impact. The distinction is also crucial for accurate driver compensation since many companies pay differently for loaded versus empty miles.
Key Takeaways:
Loaded miles = customer pays, calculated from order stops
Empty miles = distance between orders, typically unpaid by customer
View mileage in Dispatch, Unreleased Orders, and Unbilled Orders screens
Minimise empty miles for better profitability (aim for <15-20% of total miles)
System calculates automatically based on order sequence
Contact support for custom compensation rules or calculation issues