The Top 5 Trucking Industry Trends To Watch Out For In 2025
The trucking industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by regulatory changes, shifting market demands, and technological advancements.
As we step into 2025, many new advancements and changes on the horizon will shape the industry’s landscape.
FreightCenter dives into the top 5 trucking industry trends to watch out for in 2025.
1. Increased Use of Technology
Every year, technological advancements become more and more integrated into many different kinds of operations, and the trucking industry is no exception.
Although technology is already used to some extents, it is expected to increase continuously in the new year.
Not only autonomous advancements and AI technologies, but transportation management systems (TMS) and electronic logging devices (ELDs) are expected to become more advanced.
These technologies can improve fuel efficiency and route optimization, as well as streamline fleet management, propelling the industry further into the future.
2. Autonomous Trucking
Autonomous trucking was first introduced in the early 2000s but has only begun to be used commercially since 2021.
Self-driving trucks rely on advanced technologies like AI, sensors, cameras, and machine learning – allowing trucks to operate without breaks. Autonomous trucking can lead to increased delivery speed, reduced labor costs, and overall better efficiency.
Many companies are starting or have already begun to implement autonomous or semi-autonomous technologies.
However, they will gain further traction in 2025 with the continued development of features like adaptive cruise control and radar safety systems.
With this being said, it will come as no surprise if we see self-driving semis on the road this year.
3. Use of Electric and Alternative-Fuel Vehicles
Many companies and consumers are opting for cleaner and more sustainable options.
In the new year, the trucking industry will see an increased shift toward alternative-fuel vehicles, electric or hybrid-electric vehicles, as the government and other industries begin to take protecting the environment more seriously.
Many states have implemented regulations to become more environmentally conscious. For example, California adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule in June 2020, which requires truck fleets to replace internal combustion trucks with electric trucks by a certain number of years.
Many companies are coming out with electric or alternative-fuel vehicles, including Tesla, which gave PepsiCo the first Tesla Semi for their transportation fleets.
Amazon has rolled out heavy-duty electric trucks across Southern California for transportation and delivery.
In 2019, only a mere 2,000 electric trucks were in use, but it is projected that in the new year, 54,000 electric trucks will be on the road.
4. Long-Distance Freight
Although the looming threat of tariffs is coming in 2025, many consumers have opted to buy cheaper products from online retailers like SHEIN and Temu, which ship their products to consumers from China.
In 2025, there is expected to be an increase in long-distance freight, which can be attributed to the rise in both air and rail freight due to consumers purchasing from these online retailers.
Trucking companies will play a vital role in the timely and efficient delivery of these shipments as they are utilized for last-mile delivery.
5. Increase in Availability of Trucking Jobs
For those in the trucking industry, it’s no secret that there is currently a shortage of truck drivers, and 2025 will bring an increased availability of trucking jobs.
This can be attributed to an increased amount of cargo needing to be transported in the age of e-commerce and the expectation for deliveries to be more efficient, along with the driver shortage.
These factors will cause a surge in available truck driver jobs.
Whether or not there will be a surge in individuals joining the profession in the new year is unclear, but automated trucking could help to combat the driver shortage.
The trucking industry in 2025 is expected to undergo significant transformations. From autonomous trucks to increased trucking jobs, anticipation of these new trends will help keep companies competitive as long as they remain proactive.
Although it’s only the beginning of 2025, embracing these trends will help to reshape the future of transportation and play a key role in the broader logistics industry and the global economy for years to come.
