How does the trucking industry work?

The trucking industry is integral to the U.S. supply chain, handling around 80% of all freight transportation. The industry is characterized by its fragmentation, with nearly a million small trucking companies averaging about three trucks each and around 100,000 companies that ship truckloads. The marketplace also includes over 15,000 freight brokers who facilitate transactions between truckers and shippers, such as taking an order from a coffee manufacturer and finding truckers to transport the goods, keeping a spread as profit. The industry has traditionally operated offline through phone calls, texts, and emails, along with online load boards which function similar to a Craigslist for trucking jobs 1.

The industry's significant transformation began around 2014-2015 with the widespread adoption of smartphones among truck drivers, allowing for more digital interactions and connectivity. As a result, platforms emerged that enable truckers to find shipping jobs more efficiently, emulating digital marketplaces like e-commerce sites 2.