Freight market confronts obstacles, yet small shipping enterprises and brokers remain positive about their prospects
The Truckstop.com/Bloomberg Intelligence Midyear Survey paints a picture of a resilient and cautiously optimistic freight industry, grappling with pricing pressures, tariff uncertainties, and mixed demand in the first half of 2025 [1][2][3][4].
Key findings from the survey reveal that the majority of carriers (85%) and brokers (83%) anticipate shipment volumes to either remain steady or grow in the next six months, indicating a strong belief in the industry's ability to weather the storm. However, this optimism is tempered by the reality of ongoing financial challenges, with only 16% of carriers and 36% of brokers reporting year-over-year revenue growth.
In terms of rate trends, 17% of carriers saw improvements over Q2 2024, but only 42% anticipate rates will rise in Q3, a decrease from earlier optimism. On the brokerage side, 39% reported spot rates increased in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, and 78% reported contract rate improvements.
The survey also highlights the industry's struggle with tariff-related uncertainties. 55% of carriers say tariffs will have at least some negative impact, and 38% of carriers now believe tariffs will significantly hurt the industry, an increase from 30% in the previous quarter.
Hiring plans also show a decrease, with 40% of brokerage firms expecting to hire additional brokers in 2025, a decrease from 52% at the end of 2024. The survey included mostly smaller operators, with 75% of carriers operating five or fewer trucks and 68% of brokers coming from firms with 1-50 employees, suggesting optimism among grassroots operators despite tough conditions.
Todd Markusic, customer insights manager at Truckstop.com, stated that many carriers and brokers remain optimistic about the months ahead despite difficulties. However, there is a notable gap between how carriers and brokers view demand trends, with 37% of brokers reporting higher load volumes compared to carriers.
The survey was conducted with 204 carrier firms and 185 brokerages, and most brokerages are operating on 15% gross margins, with 69% believing their current margins are higher than both halves of 2024. Despite job satisfaction dropping more notably for carriers (54% from 65% in the first quarter) and modestly for brokers (78% from 83% in December), the industry's resilience and cautious optimism remain intact, grounded in steady or growing shipment volumes and a belief in eventual improvement in economic and trade conditions.
[1] Truckstop.com/Bloomberg Intelligence Midyear Survey: https://www.truckstop.com/resources/midyear-survey-2025/ [2] FreightWaves: Truckstop.com/Bloomberg Intelligence Midyear Survey: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckstopcombloomberg-intelligence-midyear-survey-shows-resilience-cautious-optimism-among-freight-industry-participants [3] Transport Topics: Truckstop.com/Bloomberg Intelligence Midyear Survey: https://www.transporttopics.com/news/truckstopcombloomberg-intelligence-midyear-survey-shows-resilience-cautious-optimism-among-freight-industry-participants [4] American Shipper: Truckstop.com/Bloomberg Intelligence Midyear Survey: https://www.americanshipper.com/news/truckstopcombloomberg-intelligence-midyear-survey-shows-resilience-cautious-optimism-among-freight-industry-participants
Read also:
- Foreign financial aid for German citizens residing abroad persists
- "Germany appears less environmentally friendly compared to Texas, according to Harald Lesch's climate documentary"
- Investing 1 billion funds into the police force of North Rhine-Westphalia for battling rodents and mold issues
- Tesla resurrects transferred Full Self-Driving feature amid other promotional offers
