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U.S. - Trucks - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Feb 1, 2025

U.S. - Trucks - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Jan 12, 2025

Truckload Market Faces Shift as Average Length of Haul Declines

The truckload market in the U.S. is experiencing a notable shift with the average length of haul for truckloads decreasing by nearly 8% year over year as of early 2025. According to a recent report, this change presents significant implications for supply chain management and carriers, as the reduction represents a stark contrast to trends observed during the summer, where load lengths had been 7% longer compared to the previous year.

Data from the IndexBox platform suggests that this phenomenon is largely driven by the increasing demand for truckloads covering distances less than 100 miles, while the demand for hauls extending beyond 450 miles has been waning. The COTVI metric, representing local truckload tenders under 100 miles, showed an annual growth rate of about 20% throughout 2024, surpassing growth rates across other load lengths. Overall tender volume growth for the year averaged around 7%.

The shift towards shorter hauls is closely tied to companies' strategies to optimize logistics in response to e-commerce expansion, which prioritizes speedy delivery from distribution centers to consumers. However, the entire decline in load lengths cannot solely be attributed to this, as freight still requires transportation over longer distances to reach fulfillment centers.

Moreover, long-haul truckload volumes experienced a 13% year-over-year decline, indicating more than merely seasonal factors at play. Instead, there's a significant growth in intermodal rail demand, up by 6% compared to last year, which has remained consistent for the past seven months. This trend points towards an increased preference for intermodal shipping, particularly from the West Coast, as shippers contend with reduced service levels from truckload providers.

The decrease in carrier compliance further contributed to the growth in loaded intermodal containers transported from Los Angeles, rising from a mere 3% tender rejection rate in May to over 9% around Independence Day. Additionally, international tensions have accelerated inventory imports, decreasing reliance on domestic shipping as goods arrive sooner for replenishment.

Intermodal shipping remains a cost-effective alternative, typically 7%-10% cheaper than truckload services, although it involves multiple handling points which can affect consistency. However, the extra lead time now factored into imports accommodates these inconsistencies, enhancing intermodal viability.

Despite the reduced load lengths, the short-haul market is predicted to maintain robust growth due to intermodal's shortcomings in shorter distances. Carriers, meanwhile, might face challenges reacting to unexpected demand shifts due to dwindling capacity in the truckload sector, marking another critical consideration for transportation managers in 2025.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the truck market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 29104110 - Goods vehicles with a diesel or semi-diesel engine, of a gross vehicle weight . 5 tonnes (excluding dumpers for off-highway use)
  • Prodcom 29104130 - Goods vehicles with a diesel or semi-diesel engine, of a gross vehicle weight > 5 tonnes but . .20 tonnes (including vans) (excluding dumpers for off-highway use, tractors)
  • Prodcom 29104140 - Goods vehicles with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), of a gross vehicle weight > .20 tonnes (excluding dumpers designed for offhighway use)
  • Prodcom 29104200 - Goods vehicles, with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, other goods vehicles, new

Country coverage:

  • United States

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE
    3. TRADE BALANCE
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    3. Market Value, 2012–2024
    4. Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    2. Market Value, 2012–2024
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    7. Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    10. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    11. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    12. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    13. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    14. Production Volume And Growth
    15. Exports And Growth
    16. Export Prices And Growth
    17. Market Size And Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports And Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    22. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    24. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    30. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

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