Backhaul
A load picked up for the return trip after a carrier delivers their primary load, turning otherwise empty (deadhead) miles into revenue. Backhauls are typically available at lower rates because the carrier would otherwise drive home empty. Shippers located in markets with strong inbound but weak outbound freight often benefit from backhaul pricing.
Detailed Explanation
A load picked up for the return trip after a carrier delivers their primary load, turning otherwise empty (deadhead) miles into revenue. Backhauls are typically available at lower rates because the carrier would otherwise drive home empty. Shippers located in markets with strong inbound but weak outbound freight often benefit from backhaul pricing.
Example
After delivering produce from California to New York, a reefer carrier picks up a backhaul load of frozen seafood from a processor in New Jersey heading back west, earning revenue on miles that would otherwise be deadhead.
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