🎣 The 19% Freight Shift

Good Monday morning. For-hire carriers just hit their highest share on record, now moving 19% of freight once kept in private fleets. Brokers still hold 10%, but the question is: will this shift stick when the market turns? Check it out in today's feature.

Plus,

• 🔥 Pipeline Blast Halts Freight
• 🇲🇽 Brokers Invest In Border Freight
• 📉 Hauls Shrink, EVs Rise?
• ... and more.

🍳 What's Cookin' In Freight

🔥 Wyoming Pipeline Blast Halts Freight Corridor. A Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline ruptured early Sunday near Cheyenne, Wyoming, igniting next to a Union Pacific freight train and charring several cars, including ones within 40 feet of hazmat shipments. No derailments or injuries were reported, but the fire disrupted one of the busiest east–west freight corridors. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause. With rail and truck routes heavily intertwined along I-80, even short-term inspections or repairs could slow traffic.

🇲🇽 Brokers Expand as Cross-Border Freight Surges. C.H. Robinson and Uber Freight are expanding U.S.–Mexico services to meet growing demand as tariffs and nearshoring reshape trade. Robinson launched a consolidation program that bundles freight from multiple suppliers, cutting costs by up to 40% while improving customs efficiency. Uber Freight is embedding compliance tools into its platform, promising visibility at traditionally opaque border crossings. With U.S.–Mexico trade up 21% year-to-date and Laredo processing $206 billion in shipments, brokers see opportunities in compliance, bonded warehousing, and LTL strength. As cross-border volumes grow, these moves position both companies to capture share in one of freight’s fastest-expanding markets.

📉 Truckload Hauls Shorten, Opening Door for EVs. FreightWaves data shows truckload average length of haul fell to 522 miles in August, a 13% year-over-year drop and the lowest level on record, before rebounding slightly. Long-haul freight has shifted to intermodal rail, where costs can be 15–30% lower, while shippers also front-loaded inventory earlier in the year to hedge tariff risks. Shorter hauls now dominate growth, creating tighter capacity cycles but also new opportunities. Electric Class 8 trucks, such as Tesla’s Semi, face challenges with long ranges but become more viable as networks shift to 500-mile averages. For brokers, modal competition and EV adoption are emerging strategy factors.

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Private Fleets Hand Off Freight Like Never Before

New data shows private fleets are letting go of freight at a record pace.

According to the latest National Private Truck Council (NPTC) survey, for-hire carriers just grabbed 19% of outbound freight from private fleets, the biggest share ever recorded.

FreightWaves Analyst Thomas Wasson notes private fleets’ share slipped to 70% this year, while brokers and 3PLs held 10%. That’s a reversal from the post-COVID years when private fleets had been gaining ground, a trend that began in 2017.

Why It’s Happening

• Cheap trucks, weak rates: The freight recession has put carriers on sale. Private fleets are happy to offload loads to for-hire carriers if it’s cheaper than running their own assets.
• Trade uncertainty: As TTNews pointed out, tariffs and global trade volatility make it risky to lock in private fleet commitments. For-hire capacity offers flexibility in a choppy market.
• Driver headaches: Private fleets face the same recruiting costs and turnover issues as the rest of the industry. Offloading freight eases the pressure.

Where the Freight Is Coming From

America’s biggest private fleets easing off the gas. Transport Topics’ 2025 Top 100 Private Fleets shows who’s most exposed:

• PepsiCo, the country's largest private fleet.
• Sysco and U.S. Foods, under cost pressure in foodservice distribution.
• Walmart, with one of the most famous in-house fleets, still leans on for-hire capacity when the math works.
• Halliburton, an energy giant, whose freight swings with commodity cycles.

This is freight that’s historically been locked inside the tightest fortress fleets in the country.

The Broker Wild Card

Some brokers see opportunity. On Wasson’s LinkedIn post, a comment asked if this shift could trigger a bullwhip effect with brokers eventually gaining share once for-hire capacity gets absorbed.

Wasson’s response:

“… 3PLs may be more insulated, as they’re being used for more irregular routes and may be cheaper than for-hire carriers if the 3PL is sourcing extremely well.”

The real test will come in the next upswing. If brokers keep pandemic-era gains and strong carrier relationships, they could grow beyond 10%. If not, for-hire giants will tighten their grip.

The Big Picture

As Wasson wrote on LinkedIn: “For-hire fleets had their best gain in outbound freight from companies with private fleets in the past 20 years.” That’s a bullish signal for big carriers hunting truckload demand and a warning shot for brokers.

Private fleets were meant to shield shippers from market swings. In 2025, we're seeing some freight leaking from cracks wider than they've been in decades.

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🌎 Around The Freight Web

💊 Narcotics Seized. CBP officers at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo intercepted over $3.3 million in meth, cocaine, and heroin hidden in a tractor-trailer. The case is under Homeland Security investigation.

💼 Arkansas Driver Shortage. Arkansas reported 279 truck drivers removed from service under new visa and ELP enforcement. State officials say they are tightening hiring guidelines and recruiting more qualified drivers to fill the gap.

🚂 Trump Backs Merger. President Trump voiced support for the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, saying it “sounds good to me.” The $85 billion deal would create a 52,000-mile rail network spanning 43 states.

📝 Watchdog Questions FMCSA. A federal watchdog raised concerns over FMCSA’s English proficiency testing, arguing inconsistent enforcement leaves gaps in safety oversight. The review comes as hundreds of drivers face out-of-service orders under stricter rules.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• FreightCaviar Podcast: We caught up with Samir Burdzovic, the truck driver turned tech founder, now leading GetDrivers.ai, a driver hiring and retention platform for trucking companies. The episode is on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Manifest 2026: We're proud to be an Official Partner of Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics conference, the premier event shaping what's next in freight and logistics. Save $200 on the current price with our link.
• Freight Broker Group Chat: Lost a load to a ghost MC? Just discovered a 15-layer carrier spoof ring? Come swap war stories, drop memes, and ask the stuff no one wants to post on LinkedIn. Join us on forum.freightcaviar.com
• FreightJobs.co: The job board built for freight folks. Find your next gig. Post your next hire. All in one spot. Browse or post here.

FREIGHT HUMOR