{
  "id": 9419948,
  "title": "Short-Haul Freight Is Winning as Long-Haul Slips",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/short-haul-freight-is-winning-as-long-haul-slips",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T20:37:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/short-haul-freight-is-winning-as-long-haul-slips"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Short-haul freight volumes are surging compared to long-haul truckload volumes in 2025, according to latest FreightWaves SONAR data. Loads moving under 100 miles have jumped 35% year to date and 11% since September 2024, making the segment the most resilient in the truckload market over the past two years. Meanwhile, long-haul van freight under 800 miles is down 15% over the same window and off 3% year-to-date. Shippers are redirecting volume to rail, as evidenced by a 6% uptick in the SONAR Outbound Rail Index over the past year. Tightening drayage capacity is also contributing to the shift, as more short-haul loads require multiple drayage moves at either end. FreightWaves SONAR data shows the national tender rejection rate remains robust at 14.21%, giving carriers selective freight optionality heading into peak season. However, the long-term sustainability of the shift depends on intermodal railroads maintaining service quality. If service levels falter, some volume may revert to long-haul trucking, potentially unwinding the trend.",
  "summary": "Short-haul freight is up 35% year to date, and that shift is changing the truckload market. In this SONAR update, we break down why under-100-mile freight is growing, why long-haul volumes are slipping, and how intermodal is pulling freight out of over-the-road networks. You’ll also get the latest read on tender rejections, which are still […] The post Short-Haul Freight Is Winning as Long-Haul…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}