Logistics Word of the Day: Backhaul

The logistics industry almost has its own language. A typical conversation between two logistics pros is filled with jargon that is very hard for industry outsiders to understand. This article series will explore some of these words as a fun way of getting to know the ins and outs of logistics.

Today’s word is backhaul.

Imagine this scenario. You’re hauling a shipment from Miami to Atlanta. You deliver your load on time, the cargo is unloaded quickly, you’re all set to go back home. Good news, right? Not so fast. If you’re heading back home with an empty container, that return trip home won’t be so happy. If you’re lucky to find a backhaul, however, then it’s definitely good news.

In trucking a backhaul is simply a load you haul from the point of delivery back to the original point of departure. In terms of efficiency and revenue, backhauls are good for the bottom line because they reduce the dreaded empty miles, or distances truckers are often forced to cover without hauling any cargo and thus generating little or no revenue, while still consuming time and money.

So, if empty miles happen mostly on return trips, why don’t we find backhauls for every trip? Well, it’s not that easy to find them. Carriers usually have to rely on loadboards or brokers, who tend to charge hefty hidden fees. So even if you do find a backhaul, the deal you end up getting might not be so cost-efficient after all. Luckily the logistics industry is moving in ways that are making finding loads much less of a headache.

At Quickload, for example, we’re working to change that for good. Through a smart use of technology and working hand-in-hand with the logistics industry, we’re trying to make it easier than ever for truckers to find loads to haul quickly and transparently, with no middlemen or hidden fees.

Learn more about how we can help you find backhauls or any loads here.

Content Creator: Pablo Torres