Carrier Loads Averaged 15% Lighter in 2024, Report Shows

The average truckload was 58% underutilized in 2024, a sharp increase from 2023, according to a report.

This was attributed to a number of factors, including deflationary market conditions and tight delivery schedules, in research by Drive Research distributed by Flock Freight. However, the report signals that 2025 could see a shift, with more companies investing in their transportation budgets and the adoption of AI and tracking technologies to improve load efficiencies.

According to the report, which was based on a survey of 1,000 transportation decision makers, underutilization in 2024 jumped 15% from 2023, resulting in 58% of trucks leaving partially empty, with an average of 34 linear feet of deck space going unused.

This was most apparent for companies making under $100 million per year, with 62% of them sending underutilized loads. By contrast, carriers making $3 billion or more annually were the most efficient, with only 53% underutilization.

The report also sounded a cautionary note on the impact of the administration’s tariff policy, stating that it complicates forecasting and will force carriers to “remain agile.” It noted that asset-based carriers have been hit hardest by “evolving tariff policies.”