ENCINITAS, Calif. — A new Flock Freight and Drive Research study reveals a significant surge in truckload underutilization.
“We’re seeing more half-empty trucks on the road than ever before, a result of a soft freight market where low costs make shipping empty space less of a concern,” said Chris Pickett, Flock Freight CCO. “Shippers rely on truckload freight for its flexibility and ability to quickly bring goods to market—a need that won’t disappear even as the market rebounds and the cost of shipping unused space increases. What shippers truly need is a solution that lets them pay only for the space they use, without sacrificing service quality or cargo security. That’s exactly where Flock’s Shared Truckload comes in.”
The 2025 edition of its annual shipper research study, is spotlighting critical inefficiencies and challenges facing the trucking industry. The study found 58% of truckloads moving partially empty in 2024, up from 43 percent in 2023. It also highlights a critical need for efficiency-focused solutions as the freight market prepares for recovery in a volatile economic climate.
Key Findings
The study surveyed 1,000 transportation decision-makers spanning industries such as retail, industrial machinery, food and beverage and consumer packaged goods. Key findings included:
- Truckload underutilization is on the rise: 58% of truckloads moved with empty trailer space in 2024, up +15% year over year. The average underutilized truckload left 34 linear feet of space unused, or the equivalent of every third truckload moving completely empty.
- Service performance is critical to stay competitive: On-time performance was ranked as the #1 priority for choosing shipping solutions, as delays and penalties cost the average enterprise shipper $6.2 million annually in on-time in full (OTIF) late fees. Over 45% of shippers booked truckloads because they were unsure that other modes would arrive on time.
- Fraud and theft costs shippers millions: Fraud and theft affected 1.11% of shipments in 2024, costing the average enterprise shipper $9.9 million annually. Certain industries were impacted by fraud and theft more, including tech and electronics, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods.
Challenges Facing the Industry
According to the study, the freight industry faces challenges with inefficiency, rising costs, and increasing pressure for speed and reliability. Truckload underutilization and the demand for faster shipping go hand in hand, as speed to market has become an expectation rather than a luxury. The research also highlights growing on-time, in-full (OTIF) requirements from major retailers and distributors. In 2024, 1 in 6 less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments arrived late, pushing more shippers to choose expensive truckload options even when trailers weren’t fully loaded.
Read the full research report here.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
to tell u the truth feel that the big investors along with the government,,had alot to do with what’s happened to this industry down fall but never gona admit it and the only ones gona suffer are the younger people that won’t be able to have
a small business,, Just like grocery stores
How many people can open one and survive
not gona happen, the big boys not gonna let you
All about Greed
Maybe the reason 58% of the trucks are with running empty space, is because 42% of the freight is not worth hauling. I reject ridiculously low paying freight regularly, even if it is going in my direction because the cargo liability, additional wear and tear, wasted time loading, and wasted time unloading is just not worth the effort. For what I do, running empty 50% of the time works just fine. I can unload, raise the lift axle, and put it in the wind back to get another. Life with no brokers, dispatchers, and factoring companies is pretty good!