Truckload Haul Lengths Fall 21% Since 2024, Yet Freight Market Tightens

The U.S. truckload average length of haul dropped 21% since June 2024 to just over 500 miles, yet tender rejections sit at multi-year highs above 17% and spot rates are surging across all trailer types, FreightWaves reported June 7, 2026. Shorter hauls should free capacity by cycling trucks more frequently, but a disproportionate rise in moves under 250 miles and intermodal rail gains have offset that effect. Domestic intermodal container volumes rose 14% year-over-year last week, while international volumes increased 11%, as rail retains a cost advantage on transcontinental lanes. Shippers have shifted to just-in-time inventory strategies after years of just-in-case stockpiling, fueling short-distance trucking demand. A last-minute import flood later in 2026 could strain long-haul truck capacity further, though supply chain changes suggest a sustained structural shift toward regionalized freight.