Midyear truckstop.com/Bloomberg Surveys Reveal Confidence in Freight Market Despite Headwinds

Industry adapts to challenges and remains optimistic for the months ahead.

BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 8, 2025 -- 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," said 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."

Rates and Revenue

Eighty-five percent 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.
Similarly, 79% expect their revenues to remain stable or increase for the next 6 months.

Among brokers:

Comparing 1H25 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. Eighty percent 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.
82% percent expect their gross margins to increase or stay flat in the next 6 months.

Demand Outlook

Carriers and brokers have different expectations for demand in the next six months based on their experiences in the first half of 2025:

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.

Cost Pressures and Cautious Spending

Despite the positive outlook, short-term financial pressures are causing many carriers and brokers to defer investments in equipment and human capital.

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.

Carriers blame tariffs for delaying a rebound in freight demand and rates. Thirty-eight percent now believe tariffs will significantly hurt the industry, up from 30% last quarter. Overall, 55% say tariffs will have at least some negative impact.

Brokers have also soured on policies from the new administration. In December, 74% thought the administration would be good for trucking. Six months later, only 44% hold this same belief.

Labor Sentiment Strained but Holding

Job satisfaction among carriers and brokers remains relatively stable:

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.

The carrier survey included responses from 204 firms (75% of whom operate five or fewer trucks). Flatbed carriers comprised the most significant segment at 49%. The broker survey had 185 responses from freight forwarders, third-party logistics providers, broker agents, as well as asset- and non-asset-based firms. Brokerages with 1-50 employees accounted for 68% of respondents.

About truckstop.com:

truckstop.com is a trusted partner for carriers, brokers, and shippers, empowering the freight community through a platform of innovative solutions for the entire freight lifecycle to help increase efficiency, automate processes, and accelerate growth. As one of the industry's largest neutral freight marketplaces, truckstop.com provides the customer service as well as scale of quality loads and trucks to give customers of all sizes, whether on the road or in the office, the transparency and freedom to build lasting relationships and grow their businesses. To learn how truckstop.com is helping move the freight community forward, visit truckstop.com.

SOURCE Internet Truckstop Group, LLC