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The trucking industry is eagerly anticipating a long-awaited rebound in freight rates this year as well as an easier regulatory environment following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
But those are far from the only matters commanding carrier executives’ attention in 2025.
FedEx’s spinoff of its Freight division and a multibillion-dollar acquisition hinted by TFI International are expected to change the face of an industry still absorbing the shock of the largest bankruptcy in trucking history two years ago.
Based on Trucking Dive’s coverage of the industry and executives’ statements in interviews and earnings calls, here are five major storylines to monitor this year.
Industry advocates have voiced support for Trump’s nominee for transportation secretary, former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy.
With Duffy’s confirmation process underway, eyes are turning to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, whose leader will have significant sway over trucking rules, including for speed limiters, broker transparency and autonomous trucking.
An autonomous trucking framework, for one, is “likely an issue that will be determined at the level of the President,” Jim Mullen, an acting FMCSA chief during Trump’s first term, wrote in a blog post last week.
The parcel giant’s spinoff of the country’s largest LTL carrier has major implications, not only for its employees and customers but its competitors and investors.
The planned move also raises plenty of questions for the company and the industry, including who will run the spun-off carrier following FedEx Freight President Lance Moll’s retirement this year and how the ripple effects of a spinoff will play out for the rest of the market.
Perhaps none looms larger than the timing. FedEx has said it anticipates to execute the spinoff within the next 18 months, which could mean it happens in 2025 or 2026.
Truckers, customers, investors and other stakeholders will be watching closely to see what it means for their fortunes — particularly if freight demand continues to lag like it has for the past two years.
Canada-based freight conglomerate TFI International followed its announced acquisition of Daseke by rolling out a plan last year to split its truckload and LTL holdings into separate companies.
