Nearly 58% of truckloads moved partially empty in 2024, up from 43% in 2023, according to an annual shipper research study by Flock Freight and Drive Research.
"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. 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,” says Flock Freight CCO, Chris Pickett. “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."
Key takeaways:
○ 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.
○ On-time performance was ranked as the No. 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 truckloads were booked because shippers were unsure that other modes would arrive on time.
○ Fraud and theft affected 1.11% of shipments in 2024, costing the average enterprise $9.9 million annually.
○ Certain industries were impacted by fraud and theft more, including tech and electronics, food and beverage, and CPG.
○ The research also highlights growing on-time, in-full (OTIF) requirements from major retailers and distributors. In 2024, one in six less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments arrived late, pushing more shippers to choose expensive truckload options even when trailers weren’t fully loaded.
