Short-Haul Freight Surges 35% as Shippers Shift to Intermodal

S. truckload market is undergoing a structural rebalancing driven by a sharp divergence between short-haul and long-haul freight volumes. According to FreightWaves SONAR data, short-haul freight (under 100 miles) has surged 35% year-to-date, making it the most resilient segment of the truckload market over the past two years. Simultaneously, long-haul van freight (800+ miles) has declined 15% over the same period as shippers systematically convert these lanes to intermodal rail—which is up 6% annually—to capitalize on cost savings in both contract rates and fuel.

This shift reflects two concurrent dynamics: the intentional migration of economical long-haul freight to rail networks where service levels permit, and the ongoing consolidation of distribution networks into more proximate hubs. Each intermodal conversion mechanically generates two short-haul drayage moves (origin and destination), which elevates short-haul indices even as overall truckload demand remains soft. The trend carries significant implications for carrier strategy, as drayage capacity has tightened noticeably. 21%, providing carriers meaningful selectivity as they head into peak season—a position that would have been unthinkable in a tight capacity environment.

However, the sustainability of this shift hinges on intermodal service reliability. If railroads falter on transit times or consistency, shippers may revert portions of volume back to trucking, potentially unwinding the structural gains in short-haul. Supply chain professionals should monitor both modal conversion trends and intermodal service performance, as this rebalancing may represent a durable re-architecting of North American freight networks rather than a cyclical downturn.