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Cruising (Empty) Miles

Cruising miles, also called empty or deadhead miles, are miles driven with no passenger. What counts, where the term shows up, and the latest Manhattan data.

  • Reviewed
  • 2 min read
  • 4 official sources

Definition

Cruising miles

Miles a taxi or for-hire car drives with no passenger on board, while looking for or waiting for the next trip.

On this page (6)
  1. TLC's definition is about time, not miles
  2. The latest number
  3. Where drivers see the idea
  4. Related terms
  5. FAQ
  6. Sources

Cruising miles (also called empty miles or deadhead miles) are the miles you drive without a paying passenger — looking for a street hail, moving to a busier area, or driving around while logged into an app waiting for a dispatch. You pay for gas and wear on these miles, but no fare or trip pay comes with them.

The MTA, which publishes the main public numbers on this, defines cruising as "distance traveled while not on-trip." For app cars it means driving "while logged into an app, but not on-trip or enroute to a trip reservation." The drive to a pickup is a separate category the MTA calls other (MTA data, data.ny.gov).

TLC's definition is about time, not miles

TLC's rule book uses the word differently. Chapter 51 says: "Cruising is the time a For-Hire Vehicle spends available to receive dispatches from a Base or High-Volume For-Hire Service while not transporting a passenger. Cruising includes the time a For-Hire Vehicle spends driving to pick up a passenger" (Chapter 51). So for TLC, the drive to a pickup is cruising, and it is measured in time. Rule §59D-21 uses this definition to cap app companies: since August 1, 2020, their available cars may spend no more than 31% of their time cruising in the Congestion Zone (Manhattan below 96th Street) on weekdays 6am–11pm and weekends 8am–11pm. The cap applies to the company, not to you.

The latest number

In Manhattan's Central Business District (at and below 60th Street) in 2025, yellow taxis drove 47.3 million cruising miles and 46.5 million miles with passengers — about half their miles empty. App cars drove 58.2 million cruising miles against 150.1 million on-trip miles, about 26% cruising. Full breakdown: empty miles in Manhattan.

Where drivers see the idea

  1. In your app pay

    Uber and Lyft pay by passenger miles and minutes. TLC's minimum rate is divided by a 68.5% distance utilization rate (rule §59D-22(b)) so that the paid miles also cover typical unpaid ones.

  2. In the cruising cap

    Rule §59D-21 caps the share of time app companies' available cars spend cruising below 96th Street at 31% (daytime and evening hours).

  3. In your costs

    Every empty mile adds gas and maintenance. Your true cost per paid mile is higher than your cost per mile driven.

  4. In congestion pricing

    TLC trips under the MTA per-trip plan are charged per passenger trip, not for driving empty in the zone.

  • On-trip miles: miles with at least one paying passenger.
  • Utilization rate: share of time or distance with passengers; built into TLC's pay rates.
  • Relief stand: a place where taxis and FHVs may park for a break instead of driving around.
  • Congestion relief zone: the area the MTA data covers.

Read more: the cruising cap below 96th Street, cost per mile, yellow fare per trip, card vs cash payments and the money hub.

Frequently asked questions

What are cruising miles?

Miles you drive without a paying passenger. The MTA defines cruising as distance traveled while not on a trip; for app cars, driving while logged in but not on a trip or on the way to a pickup.

Is driving to a pickup 'cruising'?

In the MTA's data, no. For app cars, the drive from where a trip is booked to the pickup is counted separately as 'other'. In everyday speech many drivers call all unpaid miles 'deadhead'.

How many miles do taxis cruise?

In Manhattan's Central Business District in 2025, yellow taxis drove 47.3 million cruising miles and 46.5 million miles with passengers. App cars cruised about 26% of their miles there.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. MTA: Taxi and For-Hire Vehicle Miles Traveled in the Central Business District (data.ny.gov 2iid-6be2) data.ny.gov
  2. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 51 (definition of Cruising) nyc.gov
  3. TLC Rule Book, Chapter 59 (§59D-21 cruising cap, §59D-22) nyc.gov
  4. NYC TLC: Driver Pay Rates nyc.gov

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.

Related

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