Plus: Chattanooga floods close I-24 and stall freight, LA port hits its highest monthly volume in 117 years, July sees another spike in trucking bankruptcies, and more.
Funny Freight Friday: You heard him- sing!
Bankruptcy filings and closures are mounting in trucking as tight lending and “zombie carriers” keep rates low, delaying the market correction and prolonging a multi-year freight recession.
Despite a decline in US warehouse demand, rents are escalating due to constricted new capacity and stringent lending norms, with Prologis predicting a 10% increase this year; at the same time, building starts have fallen dramatically and available capital has reduced, due to the weakened market and high-interest rates.
Source: The Load Star
Slower demand, but US warehouse rents rise in 'tight and expensive' market https://t.co/j32aR98BPw
— The Loadstar (@theloadstar) June 1, 2023
Margins are tight, and the freight market isn’t making it easier. Here's how brokers are rethinking their systems to stay profitable in 2025.
TIA data shows small freight brokers gained volume in Q1 2025, but gross margins declined across all brokerage sizes
ATA and ACT Research report declines in U.S. truck tonnage and trailer orders in April, as economic uncertainty and tariff pressures stall recovery across freight and equipment markets.
The freight market recovery is still stuck in neutral, so what are brokers doing instead? 76% are betting on tech, automation, and efficiency to stay ahead in 2025.
Join over 12K+ subscribers to get the latest freight news and entertainment directly in your inbox for free. Subscribe & be sure to check your inbox to confirm (and your spam folder just in case).
