About the cost-per-kilometre figures on this page. They are illustrative assumptions, not measurements. Kweli does not operate a fleet whose records we could publish, so we will not dress these up as data — they are a starting structure for your own numbers, and the numbers that decide whether a load pays are yours, not ours. What we do publish from source: corridor distances computed from route geometry, toll costs from the SANRAL Class 4 schedule effective 1 March 2026, and the current DMRE diesel price. Substitute your own fuel consumption, tyre life and maintenance cost before you quote.
Running empty on the return leg of a truck route is one of the biggest controllable costs in South African road freight. On a JHB–Durban run at R14–R21/km CPK, an empty 560km return costs R7,800–R11,800 per trip in unrecovered operating costs. Finding a consistent backhaul source converts that loss into revenue.
What Is a Backhaul Load?
A backhaul load is freight carried on the return journey after the primary delivery. The term “backhaul” comes from the fact that the truck is already positioned at the destination — so any load heading back reduces the cost of the empty return. Backhaul rates are typically 10–20% lower than primary lane rates because the operator is positioned and competing with other operators doing the same thing, but the economics are strongly positive versus running empty.
On the JHB–Durban corridor, the backhaul market is substantial — Durban is South Africa’s largest port and a major manufacturing hub, generating significant northbound freight. On cross-border corridors (JHB–Harare, JHB–Lusaka), the backhaul market is smaller and more intermittent, which is why operators on these routes often carry transit backhaul loads across multiple countries to justify the position.
The Real Cost of Running Empty
South African operators often underestimate the true cost of empty kilometres because fuel is the most visible expense. But CPK includes tyres, maintenance, driver allowances, and finance charges — all of which accrue whether the truck is loaded or not.
- JHB–DBN empty return (560km): At R14.79/km CPK (34t interlink), empty return costs R8,282 in unrecovered operating cost per trip
- 3 trips per week, no backhaul: R24,846/week or ~R100,000/month in wasted capacity
- JHB–CPT empty return (1,430km): At same CPK, R21,150 per empty return trip — two empty returns per month = R42,300 in pure cost with no revenue offset
Use the Kweli Load Profitability Calculator to calculate exactly what any backhaul rate needs to be to cover your costs on the return leg.
Where to Find Backhaul Loads on Major SA Corridors
JHB–Durban Backhaul (DBN → JHB)
- Durban Container Terminal area: Stripping and reloading of import containers generates significant DBN→JHB general freight. Container terminal agents are a direct contact point
- Durban fresh produce market: The Durban terminal market (fresh produce hub) is one of SA’s largest, generating JHB-bound loads year-round
- Automotive sector: Toyota Prospecton plant and other coastal automotive manufacturers ship parts and finished vehicles inland
- FMCG redistribution: Large FMCG manufacturers in Durban (Unilever, Nestlé distribution nodes) have ongoing inland distribution freight
JHB–Cape Town Backhaul (CPT → JHB)
- Fresh fruit and wine: The Western Cape is South Africa’s primary export fruit region — northbound loads (apples, pears, citrus, grapes) are consistent seasonally
- Cape Town port import freight: Container import traffic through Cape Town port generates JHB-bound inland distribution loads
- Retail returns: Large retailers move overstock and returns from Western Cape distribution centres to national hubs in Gauteng
Cross-Border Backhaul (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique)
- Zimbabwe southbound: Tobacco (March–August auction season), chrome ore and ferrochrome, granite, cut flowers
- Zambia southbound: Copper and cobalt concentrates from the Copperbelt (high-value, specialist loads — check DG requirements), agricultural produce
- Mozambique southbound: Coal from Tete province (Nacala and Beira corridors), cashews, sesame
Best Methods for Finding Backhaul Loads
- Load board filtering: Kweli Load Exchange allows filtering by origin city and date — set origin to your delivery destination before you depart JHB, and line up your backhaul in advance. Register free at lx.kweli.co.za
- WhatsApp groups: Country and corridor-specific groups often surface backhaul loads, though load verification is the operator’s responsibility
- Direct shipper relationships: The most reliable backhaul sources are direct relationships with Durban or Cape Town-based shippers who have regular JHB-bound freight. One consistent backhaul account is worth more than five random load board applications
- Return load agreements: Some shippers offer reduced primary rates in exchange for commitment on their return freight. A slightly lower JHB→DBN rate with a guaranteed DBN→JHB backhaul often produces better total revenue than a higher primary rate with no return
Planning Your Corridor for Maximum Loaded Kilometres
The operators who consistently out-earn the market on South African corridors are those who treat both legs of every trip as revenue opportunities. The JHB–DBN run is not a 560km trip — it is a 1,120km round trip, and every kilometre of that should be loaded.
Start with your CPK calculation to know the minimum rate you need on any backhaul load to cover costs. Then use Kweli Load Exchange to find loads that meet or exceed that floor rate on your return corridor. A backhaul at R30/km on JHB–DBN return is better than running empty — it covers roughly 80% of your operating cost on that leg and keeps your cash flow positive on every trip.
Ready to find verified loads? Browse the Kweli Load Exchange for open freight on South African and SADC corridors. You can also read our guide to finding truck loads in South Africa for a full sourcing strategy.
