Set Up and Manage Backhaul Jobs in TruckIT

Use this article to understand how backhaul jobs work in TruckIT.

Backhauling is used when a driver completes one haul and then creates another haul from the return route or next destination. For example, a driver may deliver material from Pickup 1 to Drop-off 1, then haul material from Drop-off 1 back to Pickup 1 or to another drop-off location.

Backhaul jobs help your team capture additional hauling work without requiring the dispatcher to create every follow-up job manually.

Before you begin

Make sure the original job has already been created.

You may need permission to manage dispatch settings or advanced job features. If you do not see the Backhaul flag or backhaul options, contact your company administrator or TruckIT Support.

Before enabling backhauls, confirm:

• The original job is correct
• The driver should be allowed to create a backhaul job
• The backhaul route makes sense operationally
• The needed sites already exist in your company account
• The needed material already exists in your company account
• Your team understands when drivers should use the backhaul option

How backhauls work

Backhauls involve two roles:

Role	What they do
Dispatcher	Enables the Backhaul flag on the job
Driver	Uses Backhaul to create a new backhaul job from the original job

The dispatcher controls whether the driver is allowed to create a backhaul job. The driver creates the backhaul job from an eligible job after the Backhaul flag is enabled.

Enable the Backhaul flag as a dispatcher

Use this step when a driver should be allowed to create a backhaul job from an existing job.

1. Open the job you want to allow backhauls for.

2. Find the Backhaul flag or toggle.

 

 

After the Backhaul flag is enabled, the driver can use the backhaul option from that job.

 

Drivers can create backhaul jobs from jobs with these statuses:

• Active
• Paused
• Closed

Backhauls cannot be created from jobs in Not Started or Pending status.

Create a backhaul job as a driver

After the dispatcher enables backhauling, the driver can create a backhaul job from the eligible job.

1. Open the eligible job.
2. Click or tap Backhaul.
3. Review the copied job information.
4. Select or update the sites, if needed.
5. Select or update the material, if needed.
6. Create the backhaul job.

When the backhaul job is created, TruckIT copies the job date, time, rates, and the truck assigned to the driver from the previous job for the current day. If the driver has multiple trucks, the assigned truck is copied from the previous job.

 

What the driver can change

When creating a backhaul job, the driver can change:

• Sites
• Material

The driver can only select sites and materials that already exist for the company.

This helps keep the backhaul workflow flexible while still keeping site and material data controlled.

Create multiple backhaul jobs from one job

A driver can create several backhaul jobs from one original job.

Use this carefully when the driver needs to continue hauling additional material from the same workflow or route. Each created backhaul job should still be reviewed for the correct sites, material, truck, and job details.

Edit a driver-created backhaul job

Drivers can edit the sites and material on a backhaul job they created, but only while the job is in Not Started status.

After the backhaul job moves beyond Not Started, the driver may no longer be able to edit those details. If the job needs changes after that point, contact dispatch or a company administrator.

 

Use backhauls when a driver has an opportunity to haul material after completing part of an existing job.

Common examples include:

• A driver delivers material and then picks up another material on the return route
• A driver can avoid returning empty
• A job requires a follow-up haul connected to the original route
• A dispatcher wants the driver to create the return or secondary haul
• The backhaul uses existing company sites and materials

Do not use backhauls when the driver should not create the follow-up job or when the required site or material does not already exist in TruckIT.

Best practices for backhaul jobs

Recommended best practices:

• Enable the Backhaul flag only when drivers should create backhaul jobs.
• Confirm the original job is correct before enabling backhauls.
• Make sure needed sites and materials already exist.
• Train drivers on when to use Backhaul.
• Remind drivers to review sites and material before creating the job.
• Review backhaul jobs after they are created.
• Use clear internal rules for when drivers should create multiple backhaul jobs.
• Contact dispatch if a backhaul job needs changes after it is no longer Not Started.

Troubleshooting

I do not see the Backhaul flag

Your account may not have permission to manage backhaul settings, or the feature may not be enabled for your company. Contact your company administrator or TruckIT Support.

The driver does not see the Backhaul option

Confirm the dispatcher enabled the Backhaul flag. Also confirm the job is in an eligible status: Active, Paused, or Closed. Backhauls are not available for Not Started or Pending jobs.

The driver cannot select the correct site

The driver can only select sites that already exist for the company. Create or update the site first if it is missing.

The driver cannot select the correct material

The driver can only select materials that already exist for the company. Create or update the material first if it is missing.

The driver cannot edit the backhaul job

Drivers can edit sites and material only while the driver-created job is in Not Started status. If the job has moved beyond that status, contact dispatch or a company administrator.

The driver created the wrong backhaul job

Review the job status first. If the job is still Not Started, the driver may be able to edit sites and material. If not, contact dispatch or TruckIT Support.

Frequently asked questions

What is a backhaul?

A backhaul is a follow-up haul where a driver delivers material from one location, then hauls material back to the original pickup location or to another drop-off location.

Who enables backhauls?

The dispatcher enables the Backhaul flag on the job.

Who creates the backhaul job?

The driver creates the backhaul job after the dispatcher enables the Backhaul flag.

Which job statuses allow backhauls?

Backhauls can be created from Active, Paused, and Closed jobs. They cannot be created from Not Started or Pending jobs.

What information is copied to the backhaul job?

The job date, time, rates, and assigned truck are copied from the previous job for the current day.

Can drivers change the sites or material?

Yes. Drivers can change sites and material during backhaul job creation, but only using sites and materials that already exist for the company.

Can a driver create more than one backhaul job from the same job?

Yes. A driver can create several backhaul jobs from one job.

Can a driver edit a backhaul job after creating it?

Drivers can edit sites and material only while the job is in Not Started status.