Too Many Trucks, Not Enough Freight: What ‘Excess Capacity’ Really Means for You

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro: Why Rates Are in the Toilet (And What You Can Do About It)

If you’ve been out on the road this year wondering,
“Why are these rates so dang low?”
You’re not alone. And no, it’s not just your dispatcher or a stingy broker.

The truth is, we’re in a classic freight recession.

Or in plain English:
There’s way too many trucks… and not enough stuff to haul.

Industry folks call it “excess capacity” with “limited pricing power.”
We call it what it is: a trucker’s nightmare — and you better believe it’s hurting wallets everywhere.

What ‘Excess Capacity’ Looks Like From the Driver’s Seat

“Excess capacity” just means there’s more trucks than freight. That’s it.

When shippers aren’t moving as much, and there’s still a sea of semis rolling across the country, the supply-and-demand scale flips against you.

Here’s how you know you’re in an excess capacity market:

You sit longer at truck stops waiting on a load

Brokers offer pennies and act like they’re doing you a favor

Loadboards are full, but rates are trash

Big carriers slash rates to keep trucks moving — pulling down spot rates for everyone else

If it feels like the hustle got harder and the pay ain’t worth it — you’re not crazy. That’s the excess talking.

Low Pricing Power Means Drivers Get Squeezed

“Pricing power” is just the fancy term for how much leverage YOU have to demand a better rate.

Right now?

Drivers have almost none.
Shippers and brokers know they’ve got 10 trucks waiting behind you if you say no.

That means:

You’re hauling cheap freight or going broke

Negotiating feels like begging

Carriers accept loads that don’t even cover fuel costs, just to keep rolling

This is why the "name your rate" days are gone — at least for now.

Why Is This Happening?

Let’s break down the real causes behind this freight funk:

📦 Sluggish Freight Demand – Retailers, manufacturers, and importers are all pulling back. Less demand = fewer loads.

🚛 Too Many New Trucks – During the 2020–2021 boom, tons of new drivers and carriers jumped in. Now we’ve got a surplus of trucks chasing scraps.

🧮 Loadboard Mayhem – Everyone’s on the same apps. Too many fish, not enough bait.

📉 Contracts Are Locked – Big shippers already locked in low contract rates. Until those expire, spot rates are gonna stay weak.

What You Can Do (Instead of Complaining on

Facebook)

We get it. Times are tough. But here’s how to fight back — without burning out or going broke.

1. Know Your Numbers

If you don’t know your cost-per-mile, you’re playing a guessing game you can’t win. Figure it out, then set a hard floor. If the load don’t pay, let it stay.

2. Cut Empty Miles

Use apps, networking, and planning to reduce deadhead. One dead mile at today’s diesel price is like throwing money in the wind.

3. Build Direct Relationships

Go local. Hit up shippers face-to-face. If they like you and your work ethic, you may lock in better-paying, steady freight.

4. Take Care of You

Physical health, mental health, family — this slowdown can be used to recharge and reset. You don’t have to grind 24/7 to stay in the game.

5. Stack Money Outside the Cab

If rates are gonna suck, at least use downtime to learn something new. More truckers are building online income streams during layovers or earning while parked with AI, automation, or digital tools.

Wanna Win Long-Term? Learn to Earn Off-Duty

The brutal truth?

Most drivers never get rich from trucking.
Especially not in a soft market.

But that’s why the smart ones are waking up and learning how to make money without touching a load.

They’re creating online income that follows them wherever they park — with side hustles that don’t burn them out or pull them off the road. Whether it’s content, automation, AI tools, or simple systems that pay you on autopilot...

👉 Head over to OffDutyMoney.com
and see how truckers are building real freedom — while still trucking.

Want to Get Into Trucking the Right Way?

Not in the game yet but thinking about trucking?
Don’t listen to TikTok. Get the real breakdown on:

Getting your CDL

Avoiding shady companies

Choosing a smart first step in your career

👉 Start with LifeAsATrucker.com
— the no-BS resource built by someone who’s been there.

Bottom Line: The Market Ain’t Broken — It’s Just Turned on You

Freight runs in cycles. Boom follows bust. Bust follows boom.
This is a bust.

But you ain’t powerless. You’ve got knowledge, hustle, and the internet.

So until rates bounce back, use every hour off the road to position yourself to win long after the next downturn hits.

Don’t just wait it out. Build your way out.

👉 OffDutyMoney.com
— because your best load might not even be on a trailer.