Short-Haul Freight Surges 35% as Long-Haul Trucking Slips
Short-haul truckload freight under 100 miles has grown 35% year-to-date, while long-haul volumes have declined, driven by a shift to intermodal rail and
Short-haul truckload freight is growing far faster than any other segment. Data from FreightWaves SONAR shows the volume of loads moving under 100 miles is up 35% so far in 2025.
This surge contrasts sharply with a persistent slump in long-haul trucking. Volumes for loads moving over 800 miles have fallen 15% over the past two years and are down 3% year-to-date. The divergence points to a fundamental rebalancing of freight networks, not a temporary fluctuation.
The Intermodal Shift
The decline in long-haul trucking is directly linked to rising intermodal rail use. The SONAR Outbound Rail Index, tracking total outbound rail container volume, has increased 6% over the past year. Each long-haul load converted to rail generates two short-haul drayage moves, mechanically boosting short-haul truck indices.
Julie Van de Kamp commented on the trend. My assumption is that we'll continue to see lengths of haul shorten as we continue to see just-in-time become more important and as more of that long-haul freight continues to shift to intermodal to take advantage of the cost savings, she said. The ongoing shrinkage of distribution networks is a second force compressing average trip lengths.
Van de Kamp noted the shift's durability hinges on rail service quality. "We'll watch to ensure that intermodal can continue to keep service levels up to where they should be," she cautioned. If service falters, some volume could revert to long-haul trucking.
Market Data Snapshot
The following SONAR index figures, presented Wednesday, September 23, illustrate the contrasting market dynamics.
| Index | Segment | Key Metric | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSTVI | Short-Haul Truckload (under 100 miles) | Year-to-Date Volume | Up 35% |
| CSTVI | Short-Haul Truckload (under 100 miles) | Volume since Sept 2024 | Up 11% |
| LSTVI | Long-Haul Truckload (800+ miles) | Two-Year Volume | Down 15% |
| Outbound Rail Index | Intermodal Rail | One-Year Volume | Up 6% |
Carrier Power Holds Steady
The broader truckload market showed little weekly movement. The national tender rejection rate held firm at 14.21% as of Wednesday, September 23. This rate gives carriers significant power to choose which freight to accept heading into the peak shipping season.
Rejections increased around Labor Day, dipped as post-holiday volumes eased, and have since climbed back. The rate remains below its summer peaks but solidly above the 14% threshold that indicates meaningful carrier optionality. The sustained high rejection level occurs even as overall truckload demand stays soft, showed by the stark divide between short and long-haul performance.
Drayage capacity has tightened noticeably due to the intermodal shift. This dynamic has been highlighted in several recent market updates from FreightWaves.
