The average length of haul for a truckload has plummeted in recent months, averaging nearly 8% shorter year over year to start 2025. This is a dramatic shift from what was happening this summer, when the load lengths were averaging 7% longer than the previous year. This may not seem like much to the outside observer, but the implications are quite dramatic from a supply chain management and carrier perspective.
The data suggests the shrinking load lengths are being driven by simultaneous growth in demand for loads moving less than 100 miles and shrinking demand for loads moving more than 450 miles.
