58 Years. Five Recessions. Still Moving Strong.

Halvor Lines has successfully navigated every major economic disruption since 1968. The recent “Great Freight Recession” is no exception.

Today, we’re coming out of the longest downturn in modern trucking history. An estimated 5,000 to 8,000 carriers exited the market in 2025 alone, according to Luna Logistics, marking the largest shakeout since deregulation rocked the industry in 1980. The impact of 2025 hammered every level, from countless small, independent providers to large carriers. Too many freight trucking companies were ill-prepared to deal with dramatic industry swings.

The root cause? A pandemic-era “gold rush” left the industry with far more trucks and drivers chasing fewer and fewer post-pandemic loads. Spot rates collapsed below $2.00 per mile (below operating cost for most freight carriers) and stayed there for over three years. Layer on insurance premiums jumping to record highs (up five consecutive years), maintenance and parts inflation, plummeting used truck values, and a credit market lending to struggling fleets, and you get a slow-motion collapse.

As capacity exits the market, shippers are hit with a stark reality: when a carrier folds, freight gets stranded. Suddenly, too many businesses learned that the cheapest rate on a bid board suddenly became a money drain when the truck never showed up.

What to Look for in a Carrier Right Now

The carriers surviving this downturn share a few things in common, and they’re the precise attributes shipping customers should be screening for. The shortlist:

• Diversified freight capabilities
• Good Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Score (CSA)
• ELDs and safety tech: technology that removes the guessing game
• Controlled cost structure
• Driver quality and consistency
• Steady ownership and smart, consistent investment

Let’s get into the details.

Diversified freight capabilities

Trucking companies that are locked into a single trailer type are getting crushed by rate compression in that single lane. On the other hand, a partner that runs flatbed, dry van, decked van, or refrigerated transport gives shippers a single relationship across their full freight mix. A customer using a diversified transport company doesn’t have to manage five different carriers with five risk profiles. The Halvor model is built precisely for a market like this; as when one lane slows, another may be picking up speed, ensuring the stability of the company.

Think of it this way: Over-capacity is a business killer in our industry. Strategic capacity-in-reserve, however, allows a freight hauler to meet client needs immediately.

Good Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Score (CSA)

The CSA score, administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), measures data from roadside inspections, including driver and vehicle violations, crash reports, and investigation results. Lower scores indicate carriers who operate in a safe, reliable, and compliant manner. Higher scores can indicate carriers with a higher prevalence of unsafe driving, maintenance issues, and driver fitness concerns. They increase the likelihood of a carrier’s equipment being placed out of service while under a shipper’s load. Halvor’s focus on safety and compliance leads to a consistent, best-in-class CSA score making us a dependable partner for our customers.

Technology that removes the guessing game

The best trucking companies invest in the latest ELDs and safety tech (such as Netradyne Driver•i) that shipping customers prioritize to ensure their cargo is secure and on-time. Halvor maintains a 98% on-time record, which is among the best in the industry. With GPS tracking, shippers get total visibility into, “where’s my truck?” without a phone call.

Controlled cost structure

For our shipping customers, operational reliability starts with how we manage our fleet. Maintenance and repair inflation is one of the biggest margin killers in trucking right now. Carriers paying retail at third-party shops are watching those costs compound. Halvor Line’s in-house service operation, scale, and buying power keep that line item manageable, which means no corners get cut on the equipment hauling your freight.

Driver quality vs driver quantity

During the boom, the industry’s answer to the driver shortage was to hire anyone with a CDL. Halvor took a different approach by hiring methodically, building a professional workforce that earned Hall of Fame status in the Best Fleets to Drive For program, and retaining those drivers through the downturn. For shippers, that translates to experienced professionals on every load, not whoever was available on a whim. You can breathe easier knowing your brand is being represented by the best in the business, every mile of the way.

Steady ownership and smart, consistent investment

Finally, look for a company with consistent and experienced ownership/leadership. Changes in ownership can be tumultuous and can lead to workforce turnover and an aging fleet saddled with increasing maintenance costs. Shippers should focus on fleets that invest in their people and equipment during both boom and bust cycles. For a shipping customer evaluating carrier risk, steady ownership can mark the difference between a partner that will answer the phone next month and one that might not. Family-owned since 1968, Halvor LInes invests strategically in the business – in good times and bad. This has led to a workforce of over 800 talented and committed people operating a modern, well maintained, and reliable fleet of over 660 trucks and 1,800+ trailers. Ultimately, our commitment to our drivers is the foundation of a safe, seamless, and professional delivery experience.

The Bottom Line

The Great Freight Recession exposed every fragile business model in trucking in the 2020s: too much debt, too little diversification, no reserves. What started in 1968 with five trucks hauling snowmobiles for Ski-Doo has become one of the most capable and financially stable fleets in the Midwest, serving the continental U.S. and Canada.

Your supply chain deserves a trucking company built for the long haul.

Contact Halvor Lines at (800) 233-2914 or visit halvorlines.com to get a freight trucking cost quote and discuss how this fleet can support your business for 2026 and beyond.