Transportation, Freight & Distribution worked example

Backhaul Savings at 54% backhaul success rate: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop backhaul success rate to 54%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate savings from using return miles for backhaul freight instead of running empty or buying separate inbound transportation.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Backhaul loads booked: 38 loads (held at the documented default)
  • Avoided cost per backhaul: 740 $ / load (held at the documented default)
  • Backhaul success rate: 54 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 75)
  • Backhaul coordination cost: 1,200 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable backhaul savings = backhaul loads × avoided cost per backhaul × backhaul success rate.
  • Total backhaul savings works out to 16,385 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Savings per backhaul load works out to 431 $ / unit at these inputs.
  • Variable backhaul savings works out to 15,185 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed charges works out to 1,200 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where backhaul success rate sits at 75% and the headline result is 22,290 $, this scenario comes in 26.49% below the baseline at 16,385 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to backhaul success rate, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It treats avoided cost as a flat per-load figure, but real avoided cost varies by lane, fuel surcharge and whether the alternative was a spot or contract rate.

Results at a glance

  • Total backhaul savings: 16,385 $ (headline result)
  • Savings per backhaul load: 431 $ / unit
  • Variable backhaul savings: 15,185 $
  • Fixed charges: 1,200 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Backhaul Savings calculator, set backhaul success rate to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.