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Based on FreightWaves reporting: Transportation hiring slows to a crawl in April, warehousing sees strong growth
The trucking industry is seeing fresh signs of softness in its labor market. According to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the truck transportation sector added only 1,400 jobs in April 2025 – a sharp slowdown after 7,000 jobs were added in March. This modest growth reflects a gain of less than 0.1 percent month over month, underscoring caution within the industry.
The March figures were also revised downward, from 1.525 million jobs to 1.523 million, hinting that the robust growth previously reported may have been overstated. In broader context, April’s truck transportation employment numbers are down 3.2 percent compared to the same month in 2023, and remain nearly 4 percent below the record peak reached in mid-2022.
For US domestic shippers relying on FTL freight, the number of active drivers on the road directly impacts available capacity, rate stability, and the overall reliability of freight services. When hiring flattens or declines, as seen in the current data, the ripple effects can include tighter capacity, longer lead times, and upward pressure on freight rates.
Even though overall freight volumes have been uneven – with temporary surges tied to tariff-driven inventory buildups – the cooling in trucking labor suggests that carriers are not betting on sustained near-term growth. This cautious approach by carriers can translate into service constraints just as demand rebounds or peaks unexpectedly.
Interestingly, while hiring growth has slowed, driver wages remain relatively strong. The average hourly wage for truck transportation employees dipped slightly from a revised high of $32.05 in February to $31.92 in March. At the same time, average weekly hours rose to 40.4 hours in March from 39.9 in February, boosting weekly earnings despite the small dip in hourly rates.
This data indicates that carriers are focused on maximizing the productivity of their existing workforce, rather than expanding their labor pool aggressively. For shippers, this can be a double-edged sword: experienced drivers may offer better service and reliability, but limited growth in driver numbers can squeeze capacity when freight demand spikes.
Truckload shippers – especially midsize businesses – face heightened exposure to labor-driven market shifts. Whether it's the food and beverage industry, packaging, construction, or manufacturing, delays in securing reliable capacity can lead to costly disruptions.
Given the mixed signals from employment data and the broader freight market, shippers must prepare for potential mismatches between freight needs and available capacity. Tight labor markets can exacerbate common pain points, such as:
In uncertain times, having the right technology in place is essential. Portex provides midsize shippers with the tools they need to navigate market shifts with confidence. By offering real-time quoting, bidding, and booking across a wide network of carriers, Portex helps ensure that shippers are not left scrambling when capacity tightens.
Key advantages of using Portex include:
Portex is designed for midsize shippers who are serious about controlling their freight outcomes without adding complexity to their workflows.
The April slowdown in trucking employment growth is a key signal for shippers to watch. While wage levels and productivity remain solid, the underlying caution from carriers suggests that shippers may face tighter conditions later in the year.
By integrating Portex into your freight strategy, you gain the tools to respond faster, secure capacity more reliably, and maintain cost control – even as the labor market introduces new challenges. In a climate where delays and disruptions can erode margins quickly, being proactive with freight management is critical.
