WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new industry study released by Flock Freight and Drive Research exposes widespread operational waste across the American supply chain, noting that 43 percent of truckloads moved with partial loads last year. Researchers calculated an average of 29 feet of unused deck space per haul, while one out of every four shipments traveled completely empty. The findings draw on data from 1,000 transportation decision-makers and challenge the traditional binary mindset of treating trailer capacity as strictly full or empty.

The report, titled Wasted Space, Wasted Dollars: The Economic Impact of Inefficient Freight, points directly to the hidden penalties built into traditional less-than-truckload shipping models. Enterprise shippers drop up to $6.3 million every year simply covering damage and loss claims. Administrative overhead compounds those losses, with logistics personnel burning valuable hours tracking down unexpected accessorial fees and managing disrupted cargo.

Market analysts note that as the freight sector transitions away from prolonged deflationary cycles, economic pressures are mounting. Logistics budgets have increased by one to 10 percent among 90.8 percent of surveyed shippers attempting to stay ahead of shifting market rates. Cargo theft and freight fraud have simultaneously escalated, touching 89 percent of shippers in 2023 and compromising one out of every 43 individual loads.

What This Means for Drivers

For company drivers and owner-operators running OTR routes, these systemic inefficiencies translate directly into wasted miles and stagnant revenue. Hauling partially loaded trailers forces professional drivers to log extra trips and burn unnecessary fuel just to hit weekly mileage targets, accelerating truck wear and tear. Dealing with frequent cargo claims, missing freight, and fraudulent broker loads also drains productive hours and increases job fatigue.

Industry Reaction

Industry executives argue that breaking free from legacy shipping practices remains essential for modern efficiency. Carriers and brokers are facing mounting pressure to adopt shared truckload solutions that consolidate partial shipments without traditional hub-and-spoke rehandling. Without these operational shifts, chronic trailer empty space will continue to inflate shipping spend and degrade carrier margins.

Key Points

• Forty-three percent of truckloads moved partially full in 2023, leaving an average of 29 feet of deck space empty.
• One in every four commercial shipments traveled completely empty.
• Cargo theft and fraud impacted 89 percent of shippers, hitting one in every 43 shipments.
• Enterprise shippers absorb up to $6.3 million annually in lost and damaged freight claims.

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