Short‑Haul Surge: 35% YTD Gain Shifts Truckload Landscape

Short‑haul loads up **35% YTD** while long‑haul slips, reshaping rates and dispatcher strategies across the US and Canada.

Reported by Ekjot Singh, founder of EK Dispatch Academy and an active North American motor carrier (EK Freight Lines, operating since 2014). Primary source: FreightWaves.

The freight market is doing a 180‑degree turn. After a year of record‑breaking long‑haul volumes, shippers are now flooding the under‑100‑mile lane, pushing short‑haul volumes up 35% year‑to‑date. That surge is pulling capacity away from traditional TL lanes, tightening rates and forcing dispatchers to rethink how they chase business.

What happened

FreightWaves’ SONAR data shows short‑haul freight (under 100 miles) has jumped 35% YTD, while long‑haul (over 500 miles) is down roughly 8% compared with the same period last year. Intermodal volumes are also climbing, siphoning off loads that would have otherwise hit the road. Tender rejections remain high at 12%, indicating carriers are turning down loads that don’t meet profitability thresholds. The shift is driven by a mix of e‑commerce micro‑fulfillment, retailer “last‑mile” strategies, and a lingering driver shortage that makes carriers prioritize higher‑paying, shorter runs.

Why it matters for dispatchers/drivers

Dispatchers now have a tighter market for long‑haul contracts. Rates on 500‑mile+ lanes have slipped $0.12‑$0.18 per mile since Q1, while short‑haul rates have risen $0.07‑$0.10 per mile. For drivers, the trade‑off is clear: more miles, less pay, and higher fatigue risk on long hauls versus more frequent home‑time and better per‑mile earnings on short hauls. The surge also means more tender rejections; carriers are refusing loads that don’t meet a $2.00‑$2.20 per mile floor. Dispatchers who can pivot quickly to short‑haul opportunities will keep trucks moving and avoid deadhead miles.

My take

The short‑haul boom is a reality check: the industry can’t keep throwing money at long‑haul capacity when shippers are re‑architecting supply chains for speed. Dispatchers who cling to the old TL mindset are digging themselves into a hole. Embrace the short‑haul wave, renegotiate rate cards, and train drivers to handle the higher turnover of loads. The market is rewarding flexibility, not inertia. – Ekjot Singh

What you should do

Re‑audit your rate cards: push for **$2.15‑$2.30 per mile** on short hauls and reject any load below that.
Build relationships with regional brokers and 3PLs that specialize in under‑100‑mile lanes.
Update your EK Dispatch Academy curriculum with short‑haul routing tools and load‑matching software to keep your team ahead of the curve.