For-Hire Motor Carriers Achieve Record Share in Private Fleet Freight Operations in 2025

For-Hire Carriers Take a Bigger Bite of the Private Fleet Freight Pie

In a significant shift within freight transportation, for-hire motor carriers have captured their largest slice of freight from companies that maintain their own private fleets. In 2025, these carriers claimed a 19% share of outbound freight business from private fleet operators—a notable 3-percentage-point increase from the previous year and the highest in the history of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) survey. This growth signals an evolving dynamic where outsourcing freight operations is becoming increasingly common, even among firms traditionally reliant on their own trucks.

A Closer Look at Outbound and Inbound Freight Shares

While for-hire carriers scored their biggest share in outbound freight, their presence in inbound freight also nudged upward, rising to a 27% share in 2025 after hitting a historic low of 25% the year before. This subtle gain indicates cautious yet growing reliance on external freight services for supply chain inputs, although private fleets still dominate inbound shipments.

Private Fleets Employ Analytics Amidst Shifting Freight Strategies

Private fleet operators are turning to advanced analytics to better manage inbound freight needs, carefully balancing the need for efficiency with the complexity of their outbound operations—that’s their bread and butter where profits are concentrated. These data-driven strategies underscore a broader trend in logistics management, where smart analysis drives decisions aimed at optimizing cost and service without compromising employee efficiency and workflow.

Cost Challenges Drive Change Among Private Fleets

Cost considerations have climbed to the top of the list of challenges facing private fleet managers, overtaking the perennial concerns around driver shortages and retention. About 61% of survey respondents indicated that costs are their biggest hurdle, a sharp signal that expense management is the name of the game in 2025. Driver-related issues like recruitment, turnover, and an aging workforce still weigh heavily, noted by 56% of participants, followed by safety, equipment, and economic conditions.

Top Obstacles for Private Fleets

Private Fleets Leveraging Market Conditions

Many private fleet owners are capitalizing on the current excess capacity in the for-hire trucking market and accompanying rate decreases. This environment allows them to negotiate better contracts and cut costs by selectively using for-hire carriers, rather than expanding their own operational footprint. Cost-saving measures through smarter use of external carriers indicate a tactical shift in freight management, where a hybrid approach is gaining momentum.

Profile Snapshot: Wegmans Food Markets’ Sustainable Fleet Efforts

Among private fleet leaders, Wegmans Food Markets provides an interesting case. With its grocery operation ranking 13th on the Transport Topics Top 100 private carrier list, Wegmans operates 200 tractors, nearly all fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), a green alternative they plan to fully implement by 2026. Their fleet includes over 1,200 trailers, reflecting a sizeable in-house logistics network. This commitment to sustainable fuel options highlights how private fleets can balance operational demands with environmental responsibility, a growing focus within logistics.

Freight Volume and Shipment Trends

Responses from 104 companies (around a third of NPTC members) show shipments increased by 11.7% year over year in 2025, compared with 7.5% in 2024, signaling robust freight activity despite a softening market predicted by some analysts. Notably, dry van truck loadings are forecasted to decline slightly in the near term, while refrigerated van shipments are expected to rise steadily through 2027. The volume of freight moved by private fleets climbed 8.2% in 2025, indicating sustained demand and operational growth.

Fleet Size and Market Outlook

Survey respondents on average operate 626 power units, an increase from previous years, collectively running over 54,000 vehicles, including 28,000 heavy-duty trucks. Nearly half (48%) of private fleets anticipate growth, while 13% expect shrinkage. A trend toward owning tractors outright is also noted, with 45% planning to acquire rather than lease, versus 38% from the prior year, suggesting confidence in controlling assets amid uncertain economic conditions.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Fleet Ownership and External Capacity

Interestingly, the data reveals that many of the top private carriers either held steady or trimmed their fleet size in 2025. This points to a nuanced approach to asset management, embracing flexibility and balancing the costs of ownership against the benefits of for-hire carrier partnerships.

This trend speaks volumes about how logistics managers are continuously optimizing their freight strategies, balancing internal control with external collaboration to maintain cost efficiency and service quality.

Waarom dit van belang is voor logistiek

The shift in freight share toward for-hire carriers signals evolving industry dynamics. For logistics professionals, it means adapting to a marketplace where collaboration between private fleets and external carriers is critical. This also impacts how cargo and freight moving, dispatch operations, and haulage contracts are negotiated, fostering more fluid, scalable transport solutions.

Plus, given the ongoing challenges such as driver availability and maintenance costs, companies must be smart about their asset utilization, making technology-driven analytics and flexible contracts the order of the day.

Making the Most of Carrier Options with GetTransport.com

Despite insights from surveys and studies, nothing beats firsthand experience when it comes to understanding the nuances of freight transport and logistics services. GetTransport.com steps in as a versatile platform offering extensive options for cargo shipment, freight delivery, and hauling needs worldwide—all at competitive prices.

Whether you’re coordinating an office move, shifting bulky goods, or requiring reliable vehicle transport, GetTransport.com’s transparent and user-friendly marketplace empowers users to make confident decisions without the hassle of overpaying or running into surprise issues. With access to a global network of movers, couriers, and forwarding service providers, the platform delivers convenience and cost-efficiency tailored to diverse logistics needs. Book your cargo transportation today to experience these benefits firsthand.

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Samenvatting

The 2025 NPTC data shows that for-hire carriers have made historic gains in private fleet freight shares, particularly in outbound shipments. This arises in a setting where private fleets grapple with costs, driver challenges, and strategic asset management, increasingly leveraging external capacity to stay competitive. Freight volumes continue a steady upward trajectory amid changing market conditions. For logistics and transport professionals, these shifts underscore a growing need to blend owned and outsourced transport solutions seamlessly.

Platforms like GetTransport.com offer precisely the kind of integrated, flexible, and cost-effective transport options today’s complex freight environments demand. By connecting shippers with a wide range of carriers and transport modes, the marketplace streamlines logistics, facilitates international and local shipments, and supports efficient and reliable delivery regardless of cargo type or destination.