How to avoid empty return journeys as a courier

Empty return journeys – also known as ‘dead miles’ – are a frustrating and costly problem for many couriers and courier businesses.

After making a delivery, having to return without a load means lost revenue, unnecessary vehicle wear and tear, and increased emissions that harm the environment. 

Why couriers end up driving empty

There are many reasons why you might be driving empty. But the most common situation is delivering a load to a remote area where you don’t have clients or a network to secure a return load.

Without connections or knowledge of local opportunities, finding a load for the return journey can be challenging.

How any courier can reduce empty return journeys

The best way to avoid empty return journeys is to become a Courier Exchange member. However, even without it, there are things you can do to cut down on empty miles:

Networking

Establish connections with local businesses and other couriers. By creating partnerships, you can increase the chances of securing consistent return loads. As an owner-driver, this can be quite difficult.

With a CX membership, you would have access to over 8,000 other members to connect with, all over the country. 

Efficient route planning

Use route planning software to optimise your journeys. Plan trips that combine multiple deliveries to minimise empty travel, but always check that your clients are happy to co-load.

Flexible scheduling

Be open to flexible pickup and delivery times. This flexibility can increase your chances of finding return loads.

Load boards and marketplaces

Use load boards and courier marketplaces for return loads from your destination. These won’t be as efficient as using CX, but if you regularly check for new postings, you might be able to find an occasional load and cut your empty return journeys.
Promote your services

Advertise your availability on social media and local community boards. Reach out to potential clients directly by phone or email to inform them of your services. 

How CX helps helps keep your vehicle full

CX members have access to a number of features designed to reduce empty miles, ensure their vehicles are always loaded and maximise their earnings. 

• Finding outbound loads: With over 13,000 loads posted daily, CX makes it easy to find outbound loads. You can browse the live loads map, quote for loads near your vehicle, or allocate loads to your drivers, no matter where they are in the UK.
• Finding return loads & reduce dead mileage: CX gives you access to both outbound and return loads. After delivering a load, you can search for loads in the new location that are going back to your home location. You can even find return loads before you set off, reducing dead miles by an average of 60%.
• Empowering drivers to find their own loads: The CX mobile app, equipped with geo-location technology, allows drivers to find loads near their current location. If you have other drivers working for you, this means you don’t have to spend time finding loads for them.
• Let the loads come to you: Mark your vehicles as ‘available’ in CX whenever they are free. This lets shippers know your vehicles are ready to help. Shippers can then book your vehicles directly, without posting their loads to CX at all

Conclusion

Reducing empty return journeys and dead miles is a key part of running a profitable courier business. You can achieve this by networking, planning efficiently, being flexible, using load boards, and promoting your services. 

However, the much more efficient solution is to become a CX member, which makes it easier to find loads, reduce deadhead miles, and increase your profitability.

See for yourself why all of the best couriers and courier companies are CX members. Join one of our weekly free webinars and learn what CX can do for your business.