“Bumpy Ride Ahead”: Why Trucking Might Feel Like a Dirt Road on Bald Tires for the Next 18 Months

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction: The Road's Getting Rough, but So Are You

So, here we go again. Carrier execs are hollerin’ about a “bumpy ride” over the next year to year and a half. And they ain’t talkin’ about potholes or blown shocks.

They're talkin’ low rates, excess trucks, and not enough freight to go around. Basically, the kind of market where even experienced drivers are sittin’ longer than a broke-down Peterbilt in July.

But instead of cryin' into your coffee, let’s break it down trucker-style. Simple, real, and with a few chuckles along the way.

What’s Causing the Bumpy Ride? - The 3-Way Pileup

The market’s a mess for three big reasons, and none of ‘em are new, but together? It’s a disasterpiece:

1. Too many trucks – The boom times had folks buyin’ rigs like it was Black Friday at the Kenworth store. Now? There’s way more trucks than freight, and it’s killin’ rates.

2. Not enough freight – Consumers are tightening up, retail demand is down, and a lotta companies overstocked back in the COVID chaos. Result? Warehouses full, docks slow, and your wheels aren’t turnin’.

3. Rates are in the basement – Shippers are playing hardball. They know there's a line of desperate carriers out there, so they’re lowballin’ rates and smiling while doin’ it.

How Truckers Are Feeling – Like We’re Haulin’ Air

If you’re feelin’ frustrated, you’re not alone. Drivers across the country are talkin’ about:

Empty miles stackin’ up

Load boards lookin’ like ghost towns

Company drivers getting their hours slashed

Owner-operators questioning if it's even worth fueling up

This ain't just a business slump — it's a mental and emotional grind, especially for folks barely breakin’ even.

The Perspectives You Don’t Hear on the News

Mainstream media loves to toss around phrases like “market correction” or “cyclical downturn.” That’s code for: “You’re gettin’ screwed, but we ain't gonna say it.”

Here’s what they don’t talk about:

Small carriers are folding while mega-fleets ride it out with deeper pockets

Newer drivers who got in during the boom are now struggling to survive

Tech platforms (like brokers with apps) are cutting into profits and controlling pricing more than ever

It’s like being at a poker table where the house cheats, but you’re still expected to ante up.

How the Industry’s Responding – Some Are Pivoting, Some Are Parking

Not everybody's sitting on their hands. Here’s how folks are adapting:

Veteran O/Os are parking trucks and waiting it out (or hauling local to stay afloat)

Some fleets are getting lean — cutting maintenance costs, dropping trailers, and renegotiating insurance

Drivers are pivoting — learning new trades, starting side hustles, and yeah, even using AI and content creation to prep an exit plan (more on that below)

This ain’t just about surviving — it’s about being smart enough to pivot before you crash and burn.

Bottom Line – This Ain’t the First Storm, and It Won’t Be the Last

The next 12 to 18 months will separate the lifers from the leaners. Some folks will grind it out, others will bow out, and a few smart ones? They’ll build something beyond the driver’s seat.

Look — trucking’s always had ups and downs. But if you’re not using these slow times to level up, you’re burnin’ daylight.

Now’s the time to:

Learn about money outside the truck

Start building an exit plan (even if you’re not ready to leave yet)

And for heaven’s sake — stop hoping rates “go back up tomorrow.” Hope ain’t a business strategy.

📣 Call to Action – Build While You Haul

Trucking might be slow, but your future don’t have to be. That’s why more drivers are learning AI tools and digital skills while still behind the wheel — so they’ve got options when the wheels stop turning.

👉 Go to RetireFromTrucking.com
to get started with the free training on making money online, using skills you already have.
👉 Or head to LifeAsATrucker.com
if you’re still all-in and just wanna get better at the game.

Don’t just ride out the storm — build your lifeboat. You might not control the freight market, but you sure as heck control what you do with your downtime.

Now get back out there and keep it upright, between the lines, and never forget: It’s your rig, your rules — but a smart driver always plans for the next off-ramp.