APRIL 24, 2025

Tariffs and Trucking

What Small Fleets & Owner-Operators Need to Know

The world of trucking is influenced by everything from geopolitics to the weather. All these factors make it difficult to predict market trends, load demand, and more. Staying informed and ahead of the curve is a job in and of itself for small fleet owners, owner-operators, and enterprise fleet owners.

While many of these factors are subtle, others can completely transform the entire industry seemingly overnight. For truck drivers with their fingers on the pulse of current events, the potential and impending tariffs in the United States are among the most notable changes in recent memory.

The question isn’t if the tariffs will impact small trucking operations; it’s when and how. That’s what we’re here to preview, and while the nuances of the tariffs are still pretty unknown, preparing now is the best thing you can do for your trucking business.

This Blog at a Glance: Key Takeaways

  • Fewer loads on the market means more trucks chasing the same work, so small fleets and owner-operators will need to hustle smarter, not harder.
  • Without big contracts to cushion the blow, falling freight rates could hit small operations first. Now’s the time to play offense.
  • Equipment and repair costs are climbing. If you’ve been putting off that upgrade or maintenance, consider knocking it out before prices spike.
  • Fuel costs could get weird. Plan routes like a pro, skip the empty miles, and use diesel fuel discount programs like Greenlane that actually work for you.
  • Tariffs could flip market demand on its head overnight. Stay sharp, follow the trends, and be ready to pivot before the crowd catches on.
  • Start saving like your future depends on it (because it does). Cut waste, boost efficiency, and protect your bottom line now, not later.
  • Don’t let brokers lowball you. If you know your value and what’s happening in the market, you’ve got the leverage, so use it.
  • Even with uncertainty ahead, small fleets can still win. The road might get bumpy, but with the right tools and mindset, there's still plenty of green in the truck lane.

How Tariffs Impact Small Carriers (& How You Can Prepare)

With the current administration in the United States adding wide-reaching tariffs on a ton of countries and a variety of goods, it’s natural to wonder what the impact on the truck industry will be.

This is especially true of small carriers who may not be insulated by the structure of large-scale contracts.

In many ways, it is too early to tell exactly what will happen as the tariffs begin to take effect. For this reason, it’s important to do your research and stay as informed as possible as things take shape.

That being said, there are a few key predictions that could influence the trucking industry in the near future, particularly if you are an owner-operator or small fleet owner.

The Potential Tariff Challenges for Truckers

Fewer Available Loads

Many truckers rely on inbound loads for their livelihood. When the number of available loads goes down, the amount of potential work (and income) also decreases. This is one area where tariffs could have a huge impact, especially in the early days of their establishment.

Tariffs may drive up costs, causing companies to react by reducing their orders and limiting the number of inbound loads from places like auto plants, mills, and other manufacturers. This, in turn, may create a slowdown in the demand for loads.

Fewer loads mean more competition, less work, and a potential for fewer available jobs.

Dollar versus Yuan

Reduced Freight Rates

Larger carriers have a luxury that smaller fleet owners and owner-operators do not–substantial contracts that can insulate and protect them from fluctuating demand and changing rates. As an individual or smaller trucking company, you may not be so lucky.

As demand drops, you will have the same number of trucks pursuing a reduced number of jobs. This can push rates down, leaving you to pick up loads at lower prices than you previously were. All of this equates to a reduction in your income, even if you are pulling the same amount of work.

Rising Equipment and Repair Costs

When prices go up – even on raw materials – you can expect to feel the impact on your wallet. This is especially true of truckers who rely on expensive equipment to perform their jobs and often invest in preventative maintenance and pricey repairs to keep that equipment in top condition.

Even if prices don’t climb dramatically initially, it is wise to anticipate a noticeable increase in the near future and act preemptively. For example, if you have been putting off a particular repair or talking yourself out of buying the new trailer you need, you might want to consider biting the bullet and paying for those things now rather than down the road.

Shifting Markets

As the tariffs take effect, markets may shift quicker and more dramatically than they normally do. This could lead to booming markets suddenly growing stagnant or shrinking, loads becoming scarce, and the rate being pushed down.

The markets ebbing and flowing is nothing new to truckers (we remember how this works from our trucking days), the rate and severity of the change have the potential to be relatively extreme. If you don’t adapt, you could find yourself in a tough position without many loads to haul.

Unpredictable Fuel Prices

Of all the unknowns surrounding the tariffs, this one could be the most unpredictable. It is entirely possible that energy-related tariffs will remain mild and have little to no impact on fuel prices in the coming months.

However, there is the possibility that fuel prices will rise along with other goods. Because your small trucking business relies on diesel, the impact these increased fuel costs could have on your livelihood is significant.

We recommend that you plan ahead for these potential fuel costs by planning your routes, avoiding empty trips, and leveraging programs that reward you for filling up.

How Truckers Should Prepare for Tariffs

Move Quickly on New Equipment and Repairs

Those equipment upgrades, necessary repairs, and preventative pieces of maintenance you’ve been putting off? You should consider acting on them quickly before prices go up.

While spending the money now might not be ideal, you will undoubtedly end up spending more in the future. Waiting will likely only lead to more expense.

Stay Vigilant for Market Trends

One of the best ways to offset the impending market shifts is to pay attention to the way things are trending and act accordingly. It is better to be among the first to adapt than to be left behind, especially when inbound loads become scarce.

While trusting your instincts can sometimes be effective for truckers, don’t be afraid to do a little digging and examine market data. If things are slowing down in your current lanes, see where rates are climbing, shippers have fewer trucking options, and imports are still pouring into the country.

Save Aggressively and Act Efficiently

When you can’t rely on consistent work and rates start falling, you will need to find other ways to protect yourself and your trucking business. More importantly, you need to put things in motion now to avoid a disastrous situation in the future.

Start saving money wherever you can, and do so aggressively. Do preventative maintenance to avoid expensive repairs down the road, avoid unnecessary spending, and save on fuel by utilizing tools that offer incentives and cash back.

You should also increase your efficiency by avoiding deadhead miles, planning your routes strategically, and knowing your next move before you hit the highway.

Know Your Leverages and Negotiate

If you follow market trends and act decisively, you could find yourself in a good position to negotiate. If an area is tightening up, don’t accept low offers without pushing back.

Some brokers may try to use the tariffs and uncertainty as an emotional tactic during negotiations. If you are informed, know the data, and understand your value in a particular market, you are equipped to negotiate intelligently and use the facts to your advantage.

There’s Plenty of Green in the Truck Lane

The impending tariffs will change things. There’s little doubt about that. By understanding the situation and risks, preparing ahead of time, and equipping yourself to act decisively where others may falter, you can experience success even in the face of uncertainty.

As a small fleet owner, owner-operator, or enterprise fleet owner, you can squeeze every ounce of income out of your hauls by using Greenlane. Whether you’re headed for the port or dealing with domestic loads, greener pastures are ahead, tariffs or not.

Article by Giuliano Formilan, Head of Product Marketing and Growth @Greenlane.

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