What Is Deadhead Trucking?

What is “deadhead” in trucking? Riding deadhead refers to times when a truck is hauling an empty trailer. This can include an empty dry van trailer or an empty flatbed.

What does deadhead mean in trucking? Most often it means lost money. Truck drivers rarely get paid to haul empty trailers. If you’re an owner-operator of your rig, you want to be hauling things in your trailer for as much mileage as possible. Otherwise, you’re spending time and gas money on not getting paid.

Deadhead trucking is also particularly dangerous. Trailers and tractor cabs are designed to function a certain way while they’re hauling a full or mostly full load of goods. When a trailer is empty, then there’s no weight to hold it down or keep it under control on the road. The trailer can move unpredictably, and it can also be more prone to slip, swerve, or overturn.

According to one long term research study, trucks hauling an empty load are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

Dry van trailers are especially dangerous during deadhead runs because they have high walls that can be caught in winds. When enough wind pushes on the side of a deadhead trailer, it can knock it over and cause a truck rollover accident.

Schedule your free case evaluation now
when you call (800) 559-5741 or contact
us online.

Why Deadhead Trucking Can Matter in a Truck Accident Injury Case

When a truck is involved in an accident, an experienced personal injury attorney will want to ask important questions. One of the most important questions is: what was the truck hauling, and was the driver qualified to do it?

Deadhead trucking requires a unique set of skills and poses its own set of risks. If a driver is inexperienced or put in a situation where their haul is made unreasonably safe, the act of driving deadhead can be seen as a breach in their expected duty of care. When an accident results, those mistakes, and oversights could form the basis of a negligence claim, allowing the injury victim a legal basis to seek compensation.

If you have been involved in a tractor-trailer collision and have questions about liability or how to obtain compensation, an experienced truck accident injury lawyer can help you with your case. An attorney can assist with investigations and apply relevant laws, industry regulations, and past case outcomes to determine the best strategy for your unique situation.

Call (855) 969-5624 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney today.

By Phone

CALL (888) 756-4940 right now for free, confidential accident information right over the phone.

Online

Contact our team right now online via CHAT, FORM SUBMISSION, or EMAIL us at [email protected] and start getting answers to your questions.

We'll Come to You

If you’re unable to meet with us in our office, we’ll come to you. Simply CALL (888) 756-4940 and we’ll arrange for a complimentary consultation at the hospital or your work.

Meet Us In Our Office

To meet with an attorney at the Auger & Auger office simply CALL (888) 756-4940 and we’ll set up a free appointment at the location nearest you.

Proudly Serving ALL of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia

(888) 756-4940

The list of prior client settlement results and client reviews/testimonials do not constitute a promise of any particular result in any particular case as each and every case is unique. Each case was handled on its own merit, and the outcome of any case cannot be predicted by a lawyer or law firms past results.

If a recovery or settlement by trial is made, the client will be responsible for costs advanced in addition to attorney fees. Client remains responsible for costs, expenses and disbursements, including medical bills, within the scope of representation. The attorney’s contingency percentage will be computed prior to the deduction of expenses from the total recovery.

The principal office for Auger & Auger Law Firm is located at 717 S. Torrence St., Suite 101, Charlotte, NC. The attorneys and staff of Auger & Auger Law Firm work and process all of the firm’s files at the principal office location in Charlotte, NC. Other office locations listed on our website are satellite offices that are not staffed daily. Satellite offices are operated for the convenience of our clients and who live outside of the Charlotte, NC metro area and are unable to meet with us at our principal office location. All meetings at our satellite offices must be made by appointment only. Phone numbers for satellite offices forward to our principal office location in Charlotte, NC.