Why the Most Profitable Carriers Are Going Digital in 2025

“How do I make more money in this market?” If you're a carrier in 2025, chances are you've asked that question at least once this week. Maybe this morning.

Across TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn—you name it—the conversation is on fire. From rate rants to dispatch hacks, everyone’s looking for a smarter way to get ahead without burning out or bleeding cash.

Here’s the hard truth: Spot rates are soft, volumes are choppy, and costs are anything but cooperative. But while some carriers are still stuck in “survival mode,” the smartest ones? They’re scaling. And they’re not doing it with old-school spreadsheets or last-minute dispatch calls.

They're doing it with tools that give them speed, visibility, and control. Think digital TMS platforms, automated onboarding systems, and data-driven decision support.

Let’s break down what’s driving the shift and why those who hesitate risk being left behind. 

Margins Are Getting Squeezed

In Truckstop and Bloomberg's Q2 2025 survey, only 19% of carriers reported year-over-year volume increases in 2025, compared to 37% of brokers. That imbalance shows who’s really feeling the pinch.

The squeeze is real. According to the latest data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the truckload sector's average operating margin was -2.3% in 2024. For many, that means every mile hauled is actively losing money. 

• Soaring Non-Fuel Costs: While total cost-per-mile saw a minor dip due to lower fuel prices, marginal operating costs (excluding fuel) rose 3.6% to $1.779 per mile—the highest level ever recorded by ATRI.
• Crippling Equipment Payments: Truck and trailer payments surged by a staggering 8.3% to a record-high $0.390 per mile.
• Rising People Costs: Even with driver wage increases slowing, driver benefits costs climbed 4.8%.

As Greg Hodgen, President and CEO of Groendyke Transport, Inc., stated, “The trucking industry is facing the most challenging freight market in years, with loads down and costs increasing.” Carriers are responding by selling trucks and reducing staff, but these are short-term fixes for a systemic problem.

As one r/Truckers user noted, “most owner‑operators gross around $150–200K but only bring home $55–65K,” a reminder that profit isn’t just revenue minus costs. Another chimed in, “I brought home about $120K a year…but that was 10 years ago,” showing how tight margins have become.

Winning in today's market is about speed and foresight. Carriers using digital tools to onboard quickly, vet brokers, and streamline payments are keeping those pennies that paper methods waste.

Why Cutting Costs Alone Won’t Cut It

When margins are negative, the first instinct is to cut every possible expense. But you can't save your way to growth, especially when your biggest costs are rising uncontrollably.

The 2025 ATRI report is a clear indicator that the old playbook is broken. You can’t control interest rates on equipment loans, and you can’t slash insurance premiums. With non-negotiable costs climbing to record highs, simply trimming the budget is no longer a viable strategy for profitability.

The focus must shift from pure cost-cutting to building more effective and efficient operational systems. You need to maximize the revenue potential of every single asset, every single day.

The Digital Advantage

Profitable carriers are looking beyond the budget and focusing on their operational engine. They are using digital tools to automate, analyze, and accelerate their business.

This is the digital advantage in action. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Faster Pay, Less Paperwork: Digital invoicing directly tackles the cash flow crunch caused by negative operating margins, by ensuring you get paid for your work without delay.
• Trip & Route Planning: The best digital tools help you eliminate empty miles and reduce wasted time.
• Real-Time Performance Tracking: Forget waiting until the end of the quarter to see what’s working. Modern dashboards show you key metrics like revenue per mile and driver performance in real-time. This allows you to identify and fix costly issues before they snowball.
• Better Customer Communication: Quick and clear communication keeps shippers and brokers happy, leading to repeat business that provides stability in a volatile market.
• Scale Without the Hiring Spree: Digital systems automate back-office tasks like dispatch and compliance checks, allowing you to increase your load volume and grow revenue without equally growing overhead.

CtrlChain: A Competitive Edge You Can Measure

Going digital is the clear path forward. But that doesn’t mean you need to invest in a complex, enterprise-level system that costs a fortune and requires an IT department to run. 

That’s where a carrier-first TMS makes all the difference. 

CtrlChain has designed its platform specifically for the small and mid-sized carriers who are the backbone of this industry. They believe that powerful tech shouldn’t be complicated. With simple onboarding, personalized support, and tools designed for your workflow, not a shipper’s, CtrlChain helps you get straight to the benefits. 

• Achieve up to a 75% Productivity Boost: CtrlChain streamlines everything from broker vetting to payment updates. Carriers report massive productivity gains in dispatch, invoicing, and check calls, meaning more loads moved with fewer back-office hours and check call operations.
• Slash Admin Work by 85%: Centralizing rate confirmations, broker communication, and POD submissions cuts manual admin work by up to 85%.
• Work with Trusted Partners and Protect Your Cash Flow: Use CtrlChain's real-time broker credibility checks and AI-powered fraud alerts to vet every load. This proactive approach helps you block scams and avoid losing money on fraudulent loads, securing your revenue in a high-risk market.
• Stand Out to ESG-Focused Shippers: CtrlChain helps carriers win more business from sustainability-minded shippers by automatically offsetting 100% of their emissions at no additional cost. Shippers can double that to 200% when they opt in.

Stop leaving money on the table. See how CtrlChain is purpose-built to protect your profitability.