Ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs continues to create a sense of confusion and caution across the transportation industry. Slower economic growth and weak import activity have led to a decline in truck loadings. However, given the strong start to 2025, freight volumes are not expected to decline sharply but rather follow a gradual downward trend with a slower recovery.
That said, several alternative scenarios remain possible, one of which appears more likely than others. If the short-term impact proves deeper than currently forecasted, a sharper recovery could follow, driven by pent-up demand and reduced capacity. This would result in near-term weakness but stronger truck utilization in the longer term, potentially pushing 2026 utilization above current projections.
