Local General Freight Trucking NAICS 484110

Dec 19, 2025 - DOT Targets Truck Driving School Accreditation

• The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a major crackdown on truck driving schools, threatening to revoke accreditation for nearly 3,000 programs and warning roughly 4,000 more that they could face similar action if they don’t meet federal standards within 30 days. These schools represent over 40% of the nation’s roughly 16,000 authorized training providers, and DOT officials claim many have falsified training data, failed to follow curriculums, and lacked qualified instructors. The move is part of a broader effort by DOT secretary Sean Duffy to tighten oversight of the industry and ensure that drivers are trained and qualified for commercial licenses. The campaign comes alongside proposals to impose stricter rules on which immigrants can obtain a commercial driver’s license, a focus that critics argue amounts to an immigration crackdown. Supporters say improved training will boost road safety, while opponents say the administration’s justification lacks evidence.
• The less-than-truckload (LTL) freight market disappointed in 2025, with volumes remaining soft and growth more muted than expected as broader trucking demand weakened from tariffs after a prolonged freight downturn. The 2023 collapse of Yellow Corp. had briefly insulated other LTL carriers, but in 2025 even major players felt the slowdown, citing weak industrial demand, high interest rates and tariff uncertainty. Pricing discipline largely held, helping carriers avoid destructive rate competition. A notable positive was the smooth rollout of National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) updates in July, with early customer education and updated tools easing the transition. Some macro indicators offer cautious optimism, including slightly lower interest rates and steady retail sales, but executives say clear signals of a near-term rebound are lacking. Overall, carriers are operating cautiously in a shallower pool of activity, awaiting clearer economic improvements to boost shipment levels.

• The trucking market slid back in Q3 as the brief spring rebound reversed, leaving carriers squeezed by weak volumes and shifting capacity, according to US Bank data. National shipment volumes fell 10.7% year-over-year, and the US Bank Shipments Index dropped 2.9% sequentially, signaling the market’s renewed contraction. Major carriers showed mixed but troubling results: Old Dominion’s LTL tonnage per day fell about 9%, TFI International’s tonnage declined 7.4%, and FedEx Freight saw average daily freight pounds slide roughly 12%. XPO offset a 6.1% tonnage drop with a 5.7% increase in LTL revenue per hundredweight, but overall demand remains soft. Shipper spend rose 2% sequentially as fleets exit capacity and fuel surcharges bite. With manufacturing contracting, truckload and LTL volumes look likely to stay under pressure into 2025 unless demand rebounds.
• US trucking capacity faces import volumes decline, especially at major inland hubs like Chicago, Dallas, and Las Vegas. According to the Journal of Commerce, truck availability at some inland hubs has dropped by 10-15% compared with the same time last year. Fewer containers arriving at ports means fewer trucks and drivers available to move goods further away from US coastal regions. The imbalance pushes spot rates higher and makes it harder for carriers to avoid deadheading. The empty miles from deadhead trips raise costs for both trucking companies and shippers. While overall freight demand has softened slightly, regional bottlenecks are growing, creating a slower flow of goods deeper inland. Industry experts warn that the longer the US engages in worldwide trade disputes, the disruptions and unpredictability of incoming trade volumes will continue to be a drag on the sector.