Expedited Trucking: The Pros and Cons

Nick Terry • August 7, 2023

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When every second counts in delivering your goods, expedited trucking emerges as the hero of the hour. This service, pivotal to numerous food manufacturers, shippers, and retailers, transforms last-minute delivery deadlines into achievable goals. Its unique ability to traverse any land-based location coupled with real-time GPS tracking grants businesses visibility and control over their freight movements, ensuring deliveries are never a minute late.

However, expedited trucking has its challenges. The costly nature of this service, combined with capacity limitations, can pose a dilemma. Moreover, external variables such as weather disruptions, traffic congestions, not to mention driver fatigue and safety concerns, can put its effectiveness to the test. Even visibility issues have a role to play, further complicating operational efficiency.

This article aims to help you weigh the balance—to analyze the pros and cons of employing expedited trucking services. With facts and insights, you can make an informed choice about this pivotal aspect of your logistics strategy.

Is Expedited Trucking Right for Your Operations?

Expedited trucking might be the missing piece in your business's puzzle. Each of the below use cases illustrates how expedited trucking can help players in the food industry meet customer demands, ensure safety and freshness, meet tight deadlines, and foster a competitive edge.

Food Manufacturers

Consider a scenario where a California-based food manufacturer has a batch of fresh strawberries needing prompt delivery to an East Coast grocery chain within two days. Traditional shipping methods might fail to succeed against such a tight schedule. However, with expedited trucking, the strawberries can be delivered on time and in prime condition, preserving their freshness and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Food Shippers

Food shippers have their unique set of challenges. Let's take a shipment of frozen seafood that needs transporting from the port to a far-off distribution center. The seafood requires a consistent cold environment to prevent spoilage. Expedited trucking companies offer temperature-controlled trailers designed for such demands. They ensure the seafood is delivered quickly, safely, and at the right temperature, mitigating the risk of spoilage.

Food Retailers

Consider the common scenario of food retailers who frequently face a race against time to restock popular items. A grocery chain, for instance, might find itself running low on a customer-favorite organic milk brand. They may have to source the milk from a distant dairy farm while simultaneously working against the clock, where the need for speed in restocking becomes critical. Here, expedited trucking proves its worth with prompt delivery services swiftly transporting the milk from the dairy farm to the stores and catering to the demand.

Pros of Expedited Trucking

The world of expedited trucking is one with a wealth of benefits ranging from faster deliveries and enhanced customer satisfaction to reduced cargo risk, increased flexibility, and efficient supply chain management. Let’s unpack them.

Faster Deliveries

A key benefit of expedited trucking lies in its commitment to speed. This approach surpasses traditional freight services, handling everything from small parcels to large consignments with unmatched swiftness. Undoubtedly, the ability to deliver on time is a strong indicator of a business's dedication to customer satisfaction, highlighting the importance of expedited trucking. Which unsurprisingly is the next advantage we’ll focus on.

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

Expedited trucking, a vital ingredient for customer satisfaction, empowers businesses with a unique competitive edge. Through on-time deliveries, it weaves a positive brand narrative that fosters loyalty and prompts positive feedback. A striking statistic from DigitalCommerce360 unveils the consumer's urgent needs: 61% insist on delivery within three hours of purchase, while 80% anticipate same-day shipping. Equally compelling, another study reveals that nearly two-thirds of consumers will pay more for faster delivery services.

Reduced Risk of Cargo Damage and Loss

Expedited trucking significantly reduces cargo damage and loss risk, thanks to fewer stops and less cargo handling. Using exclusive-use vehicles keeps goods separate, avoiding inter-vehicle transfers and reducing potential damage. Moreover, with fewer touchpoints, the likelihood of loss or mishandling plummets. This safety and precision have boosted expedited trucking's appeal, especially for goods needing delicate handling or time-sensitive delivery.

Flexibility and Customization

The strength of expedited trucking lies in its flexibility and ability to offer custom solutions. These services allow businesses to strategically plan delivery routes, even accommodating time-sensitive or delicate cargo. Unlike traditional freight shipping, expedited trucking doesn't have limits from preset constraints; it readily adapts to direct routes and off-peak travel times. Furthermore, its customizable features - from door-to-door delivery to real-time shipment tracking - aptly cater to a business's specific shipping needs.

Efficient Supply Chain Management

With expedited trucking, supply chain efficiency gets significantly boosted, cutting back on inventory expenses and fostering streamlined operations. This approach ensures speedy deliveries, achieving ideal inventory levels, and fulfilling customer needs. Additionally, incorporating expedited services into your transportation blueprint minimizes errors and irregularities in distribution, resulting in smoother order processing, faster delivery times, and, ultimately, increased profits.

Cons of Expedited Trucking

Even though the benefits of expedited trucking are manifold, there are still several pressing disadvantages to consider.

Higher Cost

A critical consideration in expedited trucking is the higher cost associated with its unparalleled speed and efficiency, which can either inflate product prices or squeeze profit margins. This increased expense, a trade-off for non-stop transport from pickup to delivery, requires shippers to juggle the delicate balance between cost and urgency. As shipping complexities grow, finding this equilibrium becomes increasingly challenging. Even though strategies like consolidation or carrier negotiations can mitigate costs, the price tag of expedited trucking is a crucial factor to consider.

Limited Capacity

Although expedited trucking is renowned for its efficiency, it occasionally grapples with limited capacity, primarily due to surging demand, driver shortages, and equipment constraints. This limitation highlights the necessity of thorough planning, foresight, and early booking to reap the full rewards of expedited services. Securing sufficient capacity to meet shipping needs also requires strategic balancing intricately linked to wider market trends and resource availability.

Weather and Traffic Constraints

Expedited trucking, while offering swift deliveries, can face obstacles due to adverse weather and traffic conditions causing delays. These can range from impassable roads due to heavy snowfall or flooding to traffic congestion. Mitigating these risks involves strategic route planning, considering weather patterns, traffic, and road closures. Additionally, companies must establish contingency plans, such as alternate routes, backup drivers, and additional equipment, ensuring shipments are delivered timely, irrespective of unexpected disruptions.

Driver Fatigue and Safety Concerns

Driver fatigue, a critical safety concern, is significantly amplified by the demanding schedules inherent in expedited trucking. As per National Highway Safety Traffic Administration data, drowsy driving accounted for 684 deaths in 2021. Yet, worryingly, a National Sleep Foundation poll reveals roughly a third of American drivers still admit to falling asleep at the wheel. Moreover, with AAA studies showing an 11.5x increase in crash risk for drivers with only four hours of sleep, strict adherence to safety regulations is vital.

Visibility Issues

Expedited trucking, with its high-speed demands, has a critical disadvantage: maintaining robust visibility. The industry is caught in a tricky balancing act, needing to satisfy urgent shipping needs while also ensuring reliable, real-time tracking. Although nascent Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms herald a promising future, they’re still in their infancy. To partially alleviate these concerns, the industry leans on proactive tracking and swift services, including pickups within an hour.

Expedited Transportation Requires a Reliable Provider

Expedited trucking is a critical lifeline for businesses but presents unique challenges. A well-chosen provider, however, can efficiently mitigate these hurdles and ensure reliable service.

Intelligent Logistics and Route Optimization

An adept expedited trucking company leverages advanced technologies like AI and machine learning. These tools equip the provider with the ability to determine the quickest and most cost-effective routes, reducing delivery times and mitigating environmental impacts.

Efficient Load Balancing

A top-tier provider employs strategic load planning, pairing cargo with the most suitable mode of transportation and consolidating less-than-load (LTL) shipments where possible. This judicious use of space can reduce costs and enhance the overall efficiency of expedited trucking.

Trained Professionals and State-of-the-Art Equipment

The assurance of safety for your goods comes from professional drivers skilled in handling and transporting various items. Moreover, professionals that utilize top-of-the-line equipment minimize the likelihood of any potential damage during transportation and instill a sense of confidence.

Flexibility and Transparency in Service

The most effective expedited trucking providers offer various services, enabling shippers to customize their choice based on their specific needs. Real-time tracking and open communication provide transparency and reassurance for shippers, affording them the flexibility to make necessary adjustments.

Superior Customer Service

Unforeseen issues are an integral part of logistics. A provider that maintains a responsive customer service team can aid shippers in swiftly finding solutions to unexpected problems, minimizing potential delays, and maintaining the efficacy of expedited trucking.

Embracing Sustainability

With growing concerns about the environmental impact of logistics, some providers are adopting greener practices. Using electric trucks or carbon offsetting initiatives by these companies adds an environmentally friendly facet to the many advantages of expedited trucking.

Speed and Strategy: How Entourage Freight Solutions (EFS) Puts the Balance in Expedited Trucking

Expedited trucking offers a powerful solution for businesses struggling with challenging delivery timelines. Its ability to deliver goods swiftly and safely is remarkable, albeit with complexities like higher costs, capacity limitations, and unforeseen disruptions. Still, through real-life scenarios from the food industry, we've seen its transformative impact—achieving demanding targets, ensuring freshness, and satisfying customer expectations.

EFS stands out among expedited trucking companies, providing a 24/7 operation committed to stellar customer service. EFS offers diverse services, including full and less-than-truckload deliveries, refrigerated transportation, and, most notably, expedited shipping. Their intense focus on traceability and capacity accessibility makes them a dependable ally in today's logistics, addressing urgent shipping needs and creating superior customer experiences.

Take the next step to redefine your logistics strategy. Tap into the promise of expedited trucking with EFS. Request a freight quote today and make punctuality your new standard.

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Tariffs, Trade Policy, and the Great Freight Fallout

By Nick Terry • April 28, 2025

In 2025, trade policy is no longer something that the freight industry can leave on the back burner. Trade policy today is shaping strategy at every level. From tariff escalations and retaliatory duties to sweeping regulatory changes and targeted maritime fees, supply chain leaders are navigating a freight market in which unpredictability is the only constant. Sourcing decisions are shifting, pricing dynamics are unstable, and long-standing operational models are being rewritten in real time. This edition brings together key stories highlighting the growing pressure across logistics channels. Each development points to an industry moving fast, and often reactively, to keep pace with volatile policy decisions. Tariffs Stall US Freight Recovery as Shippers Pause Orders The recent move by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to impose entrance fees on Chinese-built ships calling U.S. ports has only added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping global supply chains and freight operations. Shippers are pausing plans and slashing orders, with truckload volumes, containerized imports, and manufacturing output all showing signs of contraction. Ocean freight spot rates have collapsed: Asia-U.S. West Coast rates have fallen 61% since January to $2,050 per FEU, while East Coast rates have dropped 53.7% to $3,100 per FEU . Blank sailings are rising, with vessels leaving Asia half-empty. Amazon and Five Below are among the major retailers reducing orders from Asia. Container imports jumped 15.3% in 2024, but forecasts now predict a 20-27% decline through the summer. Exporters, particularly agriculture and forestry suppliers, are also squeezed, facing 125% retaliatory tariffs from China. Truckload and intermodal rates remain stagnant, while U.S. factory output fell sharply in March. US Apparel Importers Brace for Long-Term Volume Declines According to Trade Partnership Worldwide, a 124.1% tariff on Chinese clothing and footwear is expected to reduce U.S. apparel imports by 1.6% annually . China still accounts for 41.7% of apparel shipments, leaving limited flexibility for diversion. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is warning of price hikes and mounting infrastructure stress as sourcing pivots toward Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. A looming May 2 deadline for de minimis exemptions could further complicate flows and delay deliveries. Even with a temporary 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, the policy uncertainty already affects long-term planning. AAFA CEO Steve Lamar calls the shifting policies “chaotic,” and warned that high tariff pressure will hit both importers and U.S. manufacturers reliant on Chinese components. Port and rail capacity limitations at larger gateways are adding to concerns. Retailers now face rising costs, shrinking margins, and operational delays — all while consumer demand continues to shift rapidly. Freight Pricing Gains Lose Momentum According to the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, Q1 truckload rates rose 5.9% above the 2018 baseline, but are expected to decline slightly in Q2. Shippers are responding to tariff threats with aggressive front-loading and shorter-haul routes, driving per-shipment costs to three-year lows. LTL carriers remain focused on profitable lanes and high-quality freight rather than chasing volume. The index forecasts a 0.7% year-over-year increase in LTL rate per pound for Q2 , despite sustained demand softness and macro uncertainty. A key driver behind the softening spot market conditions is a shift to shorter hauls and regionalized distribution, pushing per-shipment costs to their lowest point in more than three years. This trend reflects how retailers and manufacturers are repositioning inventory in response to tariff volatility, as NRF’s Jonathan Gold and DAT analyst Dean Croke noted. Meanwhile, the LTL sector is seeing a 4% rise in fuel surcharges, offsetting lower weights and shorter hauls. With the freight market still under pressure after 26 months of contraction, optimism remains subdued as we enter the midyear period. US Truckload Freight Spot Rates Continue to Fluctuate National benchmark rates have experienced a decline across all categories. As of April 18, dry van decreased by 4 cents to $1.62, reefer by 2 cents to $1.88 , and flatbed by 3 cents to $2.16. This marked the first overall decrease since late January, signaling potential shifts in market dynamics. These changes can be attributed to factors such as tariff uncertainties and tighter capacity, especially affecting the flatbed market. Flatbed rates rely heavily on manufacturing activity in the country, which has been particularly hard-hit by the ongoing trade war with China, and to some extent, with the rest of the world. US Finalizes Tiered Fee Plan Targeting Chinese Ships The U.S. is moving forward with a revised plan to levy voyage-based fees on Chinese-owned and Chinese-built ships calling at American ports. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced the measure as part of a broader Trump administration effort to counter China’s dominance in shipbuilding and logistics while reigniting domestic ship construction and port infrastructure investment. Starting in six months, Chinese operators will be charged $50 per net ton, with an annual increase of $30 for three years . Non-Chinese carriers using Chinese-built vessels will face lower rates, beginning at $18 per ton or $120 per container, with annual increases. The USTR capped fee applications at five voyages per vessel annually, scaling back its original, more punitive per-port-call proposal after intense industry pushback. The fees are tied to findings from a USTR investigation, which concluded that China’s shipbuilding dominance — producing 29% of global fleet capacity and 70% of all container ships on order — stemmed from unfair trade practices. Exemptions apply to ships arriving empty, those in the Great Lakes or U.S. territories, and some bulk exports. LNG vessel transport restrictions will phase in over 22 years to support U.S. production. China’s largest container carrier, Cosco Shipping Lines, has sharply criticized the USTR’s plan. In a strongly worded statement, Cosco labeled the move as “discriminatory,” and warned it would disrupt global industrial and supply chain stability. Cosco denied allegations from that USTR investigation that claimed China manipulated its shipping and shipbuilding sectors to gain an unfair advantage. The carrier said it upholds “integrity, transparency, and compliance” in global competition and remains committed to ensuring the resilience of international trade. Walmart Investing $6B in Mexico, Central America Store Expansion Walmart of Mexico and Central America will invest $6 billion to open new stores across the region , reinforcing its long-term commitment to growth in Latin America. The expansion will include Bodega Aurrera, Walmart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, and Walmart Express formats, building on a robust network of 3,200 stores across all 32 Mexican states. This latest move echoes Walmart’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in 2016 for regional distribution and operational upgrades. The retailer entered the Mexican market in 1991 with a Sam’s Club in Mexico City. In a statement, Walmart said the new expansion reflects confidence in the region’s economic potential and consumer demand. Globally, Walmart continues to invest aggressively in infrastructure and store development. The company has pledged about $4.5 billion for its Canadian operations and $1.3 billion in Chile to build 70 new stores and a distribution center. In the U.S., Walmart is executing a five-year plan to build or convert more than 150 stores while modernizing 650 existing locations under its “Store of the Future” initiative. Experience Seamless Shipping with Entourage Freight Solutions Entourage Freight Solutions believes in total transparency in the shipping process. That is why we invest in tech solutions that track every shipment extensively, monitor every driver, and extract every bit of efficiency without sacrificing quality. Our state-of-the-art platform utilizes cloud-based GPS tracking to keep you informed, reroutes shipments on the fly to avoid delays, and even responds to real-time market changes to ensure you receive your shipment on time and as soon as possible. Our Services Full Truck Load (FTL): When you need a truck all to yourself. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL): Efficient solutions for multi-stop shipments or combining smaller loads to save on costs. Refrigerated Trucking: Keeping your temperature-sensitive products fresh and safe. Cross-Docking: Strategically located facilities in Shelby, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Romulus, Michigan, for streamlined consolidation, storage, and distribution. Ready to experience a new level of service and control in your freight shipping? Request a quote today to see how Entourage Freight Solutions can help with your freight movement and other supply chain needs.