Trucking Bankruptcies in 2024 & 2025 (YTD)
The U.S. trucking industry has endured a surge of bankruptcies and business closures through 2024 and into 2025. A prolonged freight recession, characterized by "excess capacity" and falling freight rates, forced thousands of carriers to shut down or seek bankruptcy protection. 2024: Massive Carrier Exodus 2024 followed 2023’s bloodbath, with tens of thousands of motor carriers exiting the market. For context: - In 2023, 88,000+ trucking authorities and over 8,000 brokers were revoked. - In just the first half of 2024, there was a net loss of ~10,000 carriers, according to FMCSA data (via TruckInfo). - FreightWaves called it “another brutal year” as thousands of carriers either closed shop or filed Chapter 11. Even larger, decades-old carriers weren’t immune. 2025 YTD: The Pain Continues The closure trend hasn’t slowed; in fact, it’s intensified: - As of early 2025, 1,500+ trucking companies are shutting down every week, an 8% increase YoY - In April 2025 alone, 7,474 trucking businesses exited the market, a 26% spike from March. - That’s the highest monthly closure total in over a year. The collapse is ongoing, and the capacity purge is still in full swing. What This Means for You 👇 If you're a broker, carrier, or shipper, this data is a signal: - Capacity is shrinking. - Rates may rebound. - Relationships matter more than ever. ❗We’re watching the freight market reset in real time. Stay sharp, stay informed, and keep playing long-term. Drop your thoughts below: Are you seeing this impact in your lanes? What’s your take on when the tide will turn? 👇