24.04.2026

How to Find a Backload and Avoid Empty Runs

Every empty kilometre is money thrown away. At an average diesel price of €1.50 per litre and a fuel consumption of 30 litres per 100 km, an empty run from Warsaw to Kyiv costs around €500 in pure losses. According to statistics, Ukrainian carriers return empty on 35–40% of their international trips. That translates into millions in lost revenue every month across the industry.

Why Empty Running Is the Number-One Enemy of Profitability

When a truck runs empty, you are not simply failing to earn — you are actively losing money. Fuel is being burned, the driver is being paid, depreciation is accruing, and toll roads still need to be paid. All of this with zero revenue coming in. If a direct Kyiv–Warsaw run brought you €2,000, and you drove back empty, your actual profit must be spread across the full mileage while costs remain at 100%.

The arithmetic is simple and painful. The operating cost of a Warsaw–Kyiv leg is around €800. If you can secure a return load for even €500, you are already saving €300 compared to running empty. Even if the return trip does not fully cover its operating cost, it is still better than nothing. The key question is: how do you find that return load quickly, efficiently, and consistently?

Method 1: Use the Lardi-Trans Freight Exchange with Smart Filters

The Lardi-Trans platform connects thousands of shippers and carriers every day. It is the largest database of live freight requests in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. The most common mistake carriers make is starting to search for a return load only when they are almost at the delivery point. A smarter strategy begins much earlier.

The moment you confirm a direct run, immediately set up filters to search for a return load. Enter the unloading city or region as the pickup point for your return, your desired homeward direction, and your truck body type. The freight search tool on Lardi-Trans lets you set very precise parameters — from cargo type and ADR requirements to loading method and required documentation.

The "My Filters" feature is particularly useful: you save your most common directions and settings, then activate auto-search. The system monitors new listings and sends notifications to your browser or Telegram. That means you hear about a profitable return load before competitors have even seen the listing.

Do not wait for the perfect option. If you see an offer that covers at least 60–70% of your return operating cost, consider it seriously. Run the numbers: driving empty = minus €800; taking a load for €480 = minus only €320. The saving of €480 is obvious.

Method 2: AI Import for Fast Load Entry

Artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed the way carriers work with freight. Lardi-Trans offers an AI import tool that saves hours every day. Instead of manually entering load details into a form, you can pass information in whichever way is most convenient.

Screenshot or image — the simplest option. Did you receive freight details in a messenger app? Take a screenshot and upload it to AI Import. The system reads all the information from the image — route, cargo type, weight, dates, contact details. It even works with photos of paper load orders or handwritten notes.

Voice message — ideal for drivers on the road. You are behind the wheel, you get a call about a potential return load, but typing is inconvenient? Just dictate the details: "Warsaw–Kyiv, 20 tonnes, curtainsider, tomorrow morning." The AI transcribes your speech and creates a listing with all the parameters. No need to stop, open a laptop, or type on your phone.

Copy and paste text — if the information arrived as a text message on Telegram, Viber, or WhatsApp, simply copy and paste it into AI Import. The AI can parse even unstructured text like "need 15t from Poznań to Lviv Mon–Tue pallets".

Files and spreadsheets — if you have an Excel file with a list of loads or a Word document with orders, AI Import handles those too. The system automatically parses the structure and creates individual listings for each load.

The AI recognises all the information — route, cargo type, weight, dates, contacts — and automatically creates a listing or matches relevant offers. This is especially convenient for drivers on the road who cannot afford to spend time on manual data entry.

A real-world example: a driver finishes unloading in Warsaw and receives a WhatsApp message from a freight-forwarder contact about an available load. In the past, he would have had to call the dispatcher or fill in forms himself. Now he just dictates it or pastes the text into AI Import, and within 30 seconds he can see that the route is a perfect match for his return trip. That time saving is a critical competitive advantage when chasing the best loads.

Method 3: Build Long-Term Relationships with Freight Forwarders

Technology is great, but the human element still matters. Experienced carriers know that the best return loads often come not from exchanges but from forwarder partners with whom they have built trusted relationships.

When you consistently deliver high-quality service for a particular forwarder, they begin to rely on you and offer return runs before posting them on the exchange. It is win-win: the forwarder fills the need quickly with a trusted partner, and you get access to loads without competing against dozens of other carriers.

How do you build those relationships? Honour your commitments precisely: if you promised to collect a load at 08:00, be there at 07:50. Keep in touch along the route and flag potential delays in advance. When the run is complete, do not disappear — send a short message confirming delivery and that paperwork has been handed over. These small gestures build a reputation as a reliable partner.

The goal is for the forwarder, upon receiving a load request on a route you frequently cover, to think of you first. "Ah, Warsaw–Kyiv? I've got a reliable team that runs that route regularly — I'll message them now." That thought in the forwarder's mind is worth more than any advertising.

Method 4: Plan Routes with Return Demand in Mind

Not all routes are equally good for finding a return load. If you deliver to a region that generates little outbound freight, your chances of finding a return load are minimal. A strategic approach means choosing direct runs with an eye on the return direction's potential.

Example: you have two orders with identical pay — Kyiv–Poznań and Kyiv–Kraków. At first glance there is no difference. But if you look at the cargo statistics on Lardi-Trans, it becomes clear that Poznań generates far more outbound freight to Ukraine than Kraków does. By choosing Poznań, you automatically improve your chances of securing a profitable return run.

Study seasonality. In summer, fruit and vegetables flow eastward from southern Europe in large volumes. In autumn, grain moves from Ukraine to ports. Before the New Year, consumer goods traffic surges. By understanding these trends you can plan your schedule to be in the right place at the right time.

Use the Distance Calculator tool on Lardi-Trans not only for route planning but also for comparing alternatives. Sometimes shifting your unloading point by 50–100 kilometres puts you in a completely different region with far better return-load opportunities.

Method 5: Use the Reliability Zone for Fast Decision-Making

When you are searching for a return load under time pressure, every minute spent deliberating costs money. While you are checking a customer's reliability, making calls, and clarifying details, someone else has already taken that run. The Reliability Zone tools on Lardi-Trans let you instantly assess the risk of working with a particular shipper.

The system shows the number of positive and negative reviews, open complaints, and confirmation of cargo-owner status. If you see a company with hundreds of positive reviews, verified shipper status, and no complaints — you can decide quickly. If it is the opposite — it is better to wait and find a more reliable offer.

This matters especially when working with return loads, where you often deal with new customers. You may have taken the direct run from a trusted partner, but the return has to be sourced from unfamiliar listings. The Reliability Zone becomes your compass in that sea of options.

Do not ignore red flags. If a company has active complaints or a high volume of negative reviews about late payment, it is better to run empty than to spend weeks chasing your money through lawyers. A free run is just a free run. A run you never get paid for is a loss, aggravation, and damage to your reputation.

Method 6: Stay Flexible on Route and Timing

Rigid requirements are the number-one enemy of finding a return load. If you insist on Warsaw–Kyiv only, on Tuesday only, with a full load only — your chances of finding anything drop sharply. Flexibility opens up opportunities.

A willingness to adjust your route even slightly multiplies your options. Instead of "Warsaw–Kyiv", think "Central Poland — Ukraine". That could mean Łódź, Radom, or Lublin as loading points, and Lviv, Rivne, or Zhytomyr as delivery points. An extra 100–150 kilometres of empty running to reach the load is still far better than 700 kilometres of empty running all the way home.

Timing is equally critical. If you unload on Tuesday morning and want to leave the same evening, your options are limited. Being willing to wait until Wednesday or even Thursday sharply increases the number of available listings. Of course, downtime also costs money, but a day of downtime in Europe while waiting for a good load is often more profitable than leaving immediately with an empty truck.

Part-loads are also an option. If you cannot find a full return run but there is cargo available that would fill half your trailer, consider it. You might be able to add more freight along the way, or at the very least partially offset your fuel costs — which is better than nothing.

Method 7: Build Your Own Database of Regular Routes and Clients

The most effective strategy for eliminating empty running is to remove the guesswork from your search altogether. Experienced carriers build their business model around regular "pendulum" routes with steady clients in both directions.

The ideal setup looks like this: you have a regular shipper who sends loads Kyiv–Warsaw every week. And you have another regular shipper who equally consistently moves freight Warsaw–Kyiv. You become the go-to carrier for both on that lane, synchronise your schedule so the runs connect seamlessly, and virtually eliminate empty running.

How do you get there? Start by analysing your actual runs over the past 3–6 months. Which routes repeat most often? Those are your potential pendulum lanes. Then actively seek out regular clients on exactly those routes. Offer them slightly better rates in exchange for regularity — it is still more profitable than risking empty mileage.

Use the fleet profile feature on Lardi-Trans to showcase your capabilities. When a potential regular client sees that you have equipment consistently running their route, trust grows. You are not a random carrier who happened to pass through — you are a specialist on that lane.

The Real Economics: How Much Can You Save?

Let us put some concrete numbers to the benefit of finding return loads effectively. Assume you have one truck making two international runs per week — around 100 trips per year. If 40% of those are empty returns, that is 40 empty runs.

The average empty run from Europe to Ukraine is around 1,000 km. The operating cost of that mileage is approximately €750. Multiply it out: 40 trips × €750 = €30,000 in losses per year from just one vehicle.

Now assume that by applying all the methods described above you cut your empty-run rate from 40% to 20%. That means 20 empty runs instead of 40. The saving: 20 trips × €750 = €15,000 per year from one truck.

Even if return loads cover only 60–70% of their operating costs, you are still saving tens of thousands of euros every year. For a fleet of five trucks that difference runs into hundreds of thousands — the line between profit and loss.

Conclusion: A Systematic Approach Instead of Chaotic Searching

Finding a return load is not a one-off task you tackle just before heading home — it is an ongoing strategy for optimising your operations. Successful carriers use all available tools in combination: freight exchanges, AI technology, reliability checks, and building partner relationships.

Start simple: register on Lardi-Trans, set up auto-search for your most common return directions, and enable Telegram notifications. That alone will deliver tangible results — you will hear about new loads before your competitors do.

Then add flexibility to your planning: consider not only perfect options but also those that partially cover your costs. Build relationships with reliable forwarders, use the Reliability Zone for quick risk assessment, and gradually move towards building regular routes with steady clients.

Every empty kilometre you convert into a paid run is a direct increase in profit. The difference between a carrier running empty 40% of the time and one who has built a system of regular return loads can amount to €15,000 or more per year on a single vehicle. It is time to stop throwing money on the road and start earning on every kilometre.

Useful Lardi-Trans Tools for Finding Return Loads: