Why So Many Small Carriers Are Vanishing — and What We Can Do About It

Let’s get real for a second.

I’ve been out here long enough to see the shift. Not just in fuel prices or regulations—but in something deeper: the slow disappearance of small carriers. The independents. The family fleets. The guys who built their business on grit, long hours, and a name that meant something.

Now? A lot of them are shutting down. Quietly. One by one.

And if you're paying attention, it should worry you.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

In the last 18 months alone, over 35,000 trucking companies have gone out of business—most of them with 1 to 6 trucks.
These aren’t mega fleets. These are people like us: one rig, maybe two, sometimes a brother or cousin in the passenger seat.

Note: Most closures are from carriers with 1–6 trucks — the backbone of independent trucking.

They’re not closing because they didn’t hustle.
They’re closing because the system’s stacked against them.

What’s Really Happening Out Here

Every week, I hear stories:

Drivers chasing loads that barely cover fuel
Carriers getting undercut by brokers who take 30%+
Insurance premiums jumping with zero explanation
People trying to stay compliant while drowning in red tape

Meanwhile, the big guys?
They’ve got lawyers, volume discounts, lobbyists, and tech teams.
We’ve got Google Sheets and prayers.

So, What’s Causing This?

It’s not just “the market.” It’s a few key choke points:

🚧 Low Freight Rates: When rates drop but diesel stays high, you're bleeding money from both ends.
🦴 Broker Abuse: Some brokers skim way too much off the top—and drivers get the scraps.
🧾 Regulations & Compliance: ELDs, audits, random inspections—it’s death by a thousand paper cuts.
⛽ Operating Costs: Fuel, insurance, maintenance—it all went up, but rates didn’t follow.
💸 Late Payments: Waiting 30+ days for a $2,000 load? That kills cash flow fast.

What Can We Actually Do About It?

No, I’m not gonna say “start your own app” or “just work harder.” That’s tone-deaf.
But there are a few things we can do—together:

Build Community, Not Competition:
We need to stop acting like lone wolves. Share info. Share bad broker lists. Warn others.
Push for Transparency:
Support platforms and tools that push brokers to show what they make on loads.
Go Direct (When Possible):
I know it’s hard, but even one direct relationship with a shipper can give you leverage.
Support Each Other Online:
Follow, repost, shout out real drivers and small carriers. That voice matters more than we think.
Demand Respect, Not Just Loads:
Your time, your truck, your skills—they’re worth something. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

We’re Not Done Yet

Trucking isn’t dead. Not even close.
But if we want a future where small carriers still exist—we’ve gotta fight for it. Together.

This isn’t just about rates or freight.
It’s about keeping our freedom, our voice, and our dignity on the road.

And that's what we’re building with Truxsy—a space for us, not just another tool for the system.

If you’ve been affected by this—whether you're an owner-operator, a small fleet, or even just thinking about getting in—we want to hear from you.

Let’s tell the truth.
Let’s help each other stay in the game.
Let’s make sure small doesn’t mean invisible.

💬 Drop your story below or DM us on IG. Let’s make some noise.

#TruckersUnited #SmallFleetStrong #TruxsyVoices

Why Small Carriers Are Disappearing?