New surveys conducted by truckstop.com and Bloomberg Intelligence show resilience among carriers and brokers in a challenging freight market with demand and pricing uncertainties.
The surveys also reveal optimism and confidence in the second half of the year.
“Many carriers and brokers remained optimistic through the first half of 2025 despite facing difficulties,” says Todd Markusic, customer insights manager at truckstop.com. “While the freight market underperformed in the second quarter, with no clear resolution for how tariffs will impact the economy, many in the industry are expecting a recovery in the next six months.”
Key takeaways:
· 85% of carriers and 83% of brokers believe volume will be either up or remain flat over the next 6 months. This optimism prevails despite only 16% of carriers and 36% of brokers reporting year-over-year revenue growth, a drop from previous quarters.
· Among carriers, 17% said rates have improved since Q2 of 2024, and 42% expect rates to rise in Q3 (down 13 points from Q1); 56% believe load volumes during 2Q25 were up or flat compared to the same period last year; nearly half (48%) are unsure when rates will bottom out, a 7-point increase from Q1, yet 84% think rates will go up or stay flat over the next 6 months; and similarly, 79% expect their revenues to remain stable or increase for the next 6 months.
· Among brokers, comparing Q1 to the same period last year, 39% of brokers said spot rates were up, and 78% said contract rates were up; revenues went up or stayed flat for 72% during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year; 84% expect spot rates to remain stable or increase in the next 6 months, while 80% expect contract rates to do the same; most are working on a 15% gross margin, and 69% believe their current margin is higher in the first half of 2025 compared to the first and second halves of 2024; and 82% expect their gross margins to increase or stay flat in the next 6 months.
· 19% of carriers say load volumes are up year-over-year, while 37% of brokers reported higher load volumes.
- 52% of carriers expect demand to increase in the next 3–6 months, while 83% of brokers believe demand will be either up or flat over the next 6 months.
- Only 21% of carriers plan to purchase new equipment, down from 38% in Q1.
- 40% of brokerage firms expect to hire more brokers in 2025, compared to 52% in December 2024.
- Among brokers, job satisfaction slipped modestly (78% vs. 83% in December).
- 54% of carriers say they are satisfied with their work, down from 65% in Q1.
- Only 10% are considering leaving the industry, barely changed from 9% in Q1.
- 18% of carriers and 6% of brokers are dissatisfied with their jobs.
