Truckstop.com and Bloomberg Intelligence showed carriers and brokers are still optimistic despite market headwinds.
"Many carriers and brokers remained optimistic through the first half of 2025 despite facing difficulties," says Todd Markusic, customer insights manager for Truckstop.com. "While the freight market underperformed in the second quarter, with no clear resolution for how tariffs will impact the economy, many in the industry are expecting a recovery in the next six months."
Fewer respondents are planning investments in equipment, the survey found, with just 21% of carriers planning to purchase new equipment, down from 38% in the first quarter of 2025.
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Still, most carriers and brokers, more than 80% of those surveyed in both categories, say volume will be either up or falt in the next six months, despite only 16% of carriers and 36% of brokers reporting year over year growth.
Around half of carriers, 42%, expect rates to rise in the third quarter, which is still down from the first quarter, and nearly half (48%) say are unsure if rates have bottomed out. But 84% of carriers say rates will go up or stay flat over the next six months and 79% of carriers expect revenues to remain stable or increase in the next six months.
Carriers laid the blame for low rates and poor freight demand on tariffs, with 38% now saying tariffs will significantly hurt the trucking industry, up from 30% in the last quarter. Overall, more than half — 55% — say tariffs will have at least some negative impact.
Brokers have also soured on federal economic policies. In December, 74% saw the incoming Trump administration as being good for trucking. That number has fallen to 44%.
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