Webinar Recap: Tariffs and unpredictable demand leave 58% of US truckloads underutilized
The freight industry is facing growing challenges, with evolving tariffs and unpredictable demand leaving 58% of US truckloads underutilized in 2024. Flock Freight, along with experts from Freightwaves and Orgain, hosted a highly insightful webinar to reveal findings from our latest research and explore solutions to optimize truckload utilization in these rapidly shifting conditions.
Here are the main takeaways from the discussion.
Navigating Truckload Underutilization
Tariffs and volatile demand have intensified inefficiencies in the freight industry. According to Chris Pickett, Chief Commercial Officer at Flock Freight, the numbers are staggering. “58% of full truckloads moved were not completely full. When you put that into context, over a third of truckload capacity is essentially wasted,” he explained.
This underutilization problem does not stem from deliberate strategies but rather from evolving market pressures such as fluctuating consumer demand, smaller shipment sizes, and ongoing disruptions caused by tariffs. Chris emphasized, “No one has an underutilization strategy. Supply chains are messy, and businesses ship underutilized loads because the penalty cost of shipping air is still quite low.”
Key Study Findings
Now in its third year, this study conducted by Flock Freight and Drive Research surveyed over 1,000 shippers from varying industries, including consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, and retail. The research highlights a major increase in underutilized truckloads compared to the previous year (58% in 2025 vs. 53% in 2024). Despite having utilization KPIs, many companies struggle to achieve efficiency as new challenges arise.
Chris broke it down further, saying, “Smaller shippers often report the highest levels of underutilization. Some of them see underutilization rates as high as 62%. These inefficiencies aren’t about cutting corners but managing unpredictability when demand forecasts fail.”
Expert Perspective
The webinar panelists also discussed actionable steps to address this problem. Marc Durau, Senior Director of Logistics at Orgain, suggested looking beyond traditional solutions. “Utilizing Shared Truckload models, like those provided by Flock Freight, changes the game. It lets companies ship flexibly without having to pay for space they don’t need,” he stated.
Chris Pickett further elaborated on Flock Freight’s innovative approach: “We’re building a first-of-its-kind Shared Truckload platform. Our goal is to move shipments with the same truck, the same driver, and without terminal consolidations. This reduces inefficiencies and slashes emissions by up to 40%, creating value for shippers, carriers, and the planet.” The model bridges the gap between less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping and full truckload (FTL), allowing businesses to optimize their transportation program sustainably.
Why This Matters
Underutilized truckloads are more than just a financial drain; they’re an environmental issue too. By addressing inefficiencies with innovative approaches like Shared Truckloads, the industry can make strides towards reducing emissions while improving cost-effectiveness.
Flock Freight is proud to lead this charge with solutions that deliver value and sustainability in equal measure. As Marc put it during the webinar, “With the right technology and partnerships, the future of freight can be one of both efficiency and responsibility.”
Resources
Missed the webinar? Don’t worry. You can catch the full recording here.
Want to read the full research study? Check it out here.
