Optimizing Freight Efficiency: How FlockDirect® Reduces Wasted Trailer Space

The underutilized trailer space issue in truckload programs continues to persist in the freight market with 43% of truckloads moving partially empty in 2023. Less than truckload (LTL) shippers might be drawn in by cost at the surface level, but hidden charges can soon add up. In 2023, the average enterprise shipper paid up to $6.3 million annually on LTL damage and loss claims alone.

In 2021, the shipping industry faced significant challenges due to inflationary pressures, which led to compromised service quality and stringent carrier constraints, with DAT TL spot rates soaring by 56.1% Y/Y. However, as the industry entered a deflationary phase between 2022 and 2023, these spot rates plummeted to -31.8% Y/Y, offering shippers some respite and more options.

Despite this, inefficiencies persisted, and with the anticipation of a return to inflation by the end of 2024, a majority of shippers (90.8%) have proactively increased their budgets by 1 to 10% to adapt to the expected market conditions.

Although shippers prioritize innovation, particularly in the AI and automation space, they recognize that these new technologies may expose vulnerabilities. Download this research report surveying 1,000 transportation decision makers from different industries to uncover key inefficiencies in the U.S freight landscape.