Freight’s Still in a Funk: Why the Market’s Soft and What Truckers Should Do About It

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction

You don’t need a fancy report to know the freight market’s been feeling like a flat tire. But now the OOIDA Foundation has confirmed it — freight volumes are shrinking, rates are falling, and capacity is easing. In plain English? There's more trucks than freight, and not enough money to go around.

Let’s break it down, trucker style: what’s really going on, who’s feeling it the most, and what you can do so you’re not just another driver waiting on a miracle.

What the OOIDA Report Actually Says

The OOIDA Foundation’s recent outlook isn’t sugar-coating anything. Here are the lowlights:

Freight volumes are down – There just ain't enough loads to go around.

Rates are dropping – Especially for spot market loads, which are drying up fast.

Capacity is easing – More drivers are parking trucks, getting out of the game, or moving to local gigs.

Translation? Too many drivers chasing too few loads for not enough money. That’s the triple threat nobody wants to deal with.

How We Got Here: A Trucker’s Breakdown

Let’s rewind the tape:

Pandemic boom — Everyone was buying stuff online, and freight was flying.

Post-pandemic bust — Consumer spending dropped, imports slowed, and inventories piled up.

Inflation & fuel costs — Chewed up profits like a steer tire on gravel.

Now, even big players are tightening belts, and small carriers are shutting down or selling trucks just to stay afloat.

Who’s Getting Hit the Hardest

It ain’t the mega-fleets taking the worst hit — it’s the little guys:

Owner-operators are struggling to cover fuel, maintenance, and insurance with the current rates.

New authorities who got in during the boom are realizing this game ain’t as easy as TikTok made it look.

Lease operators are getting crushed by fixed costs with fewer loads.

If you’re a one-truck operation with no steady contract, you’re probably asking: “Is it even worth it anymore?”

What the Industry’s Doing (or Not Doing)

Some carriers are downsizing. Others are praying for a Christmas surge in consumer spending. Broker transparency is still a hot topic, but real solutions? Not so much.

Technology companies are still promising that AI will “optimize” everything, but truckers know better — a load board app doesn’t help if there ain’t any good-paying freight on it.

Shippers? Still low-balling like they’re in charge of an auction house.

So, What Can You Actually Do?

Now we get to the good stuff — what a smart driver can do in a soft market:

Cut the fluff – Eliminate unnecessary costs. If it don’t move the truck or make money, cut it.

Negotiate better – Don’t take every load. Work smarter routes, talk to brokers, and get selective.

Get direct shippers – It takes hustle, but cutting out the middleman can save your wallet.

Explore side income – Use your downtime to build a second stream. AI, affiliate marketing, dispatching — the tools are out there.

Plan your exit strategy – If trucking’s burning you out, start learning the skills that’ll help you walk away when you decide.

Multiple Perspectives: Not All Doom and Gloom

Here’s the thing: bad markets don’t last forever.

Optimists say: Capacity will keep dropping until rates stabilize. Those who hang in might win big later.

Pessimists say: This is just the beginning of a long downturn.

Realists say: Control what you can, prep for what you can’t.

And here’s a spicy truth: some smart truckers are still thriving — because they run lean, work smart, and stay ahead of trends. Be that trucker.

Bottom Line

The freight market might be soft, but you don’t have to be. Stay sharp. Stay lean. Diversify if you can. And always remember — the ones who survive these downturns usually come out stronger.

This ain’t the first rough patch, and it won’t be the last. But the question is… what are you doing while rates are low?

Call to Action

If you’re tired of waiting for rates to bounce back, maybe it’s time to bounce forward.
👉 Head over to RetireFromTrucking.com and start learning how to earn online while you’re still in the cab.
👉 For tools, tips, and truth from drivers who’ve been there, hit up LifeAsATrucker.com