According to FreightWaves, rising full truckload rates in 2026 are pushing shippers toward shared truckload, a mode that Flock Freight CEO Pat Dillon says can cut transportation costs 30% to 40% compared with booking a standalone truckload. The savings grow larger in years two and three of a shipper relationship, and for shippers moving hundreds of shipments through the mode, the compounding effect can reach "hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars" annually, Dillon told FreightWaves.
FreightWaves reported that shared truckload, which Dillon describes as "carpooling for freight," combines two shipments from separate shippers onto a single trailer, with two pickups and two drop-offs. The model targets freight in the 10-to-40 linear foot range — loads too large for the less-than-truckload (LTL) sweet spot but not large enough to fill a full trailer.
Where Shared Truckload Fits Between FTL and LTL
The mode sits between full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) on the freight spectrum. FreightWaves noted that shared truckload targets loads too large for the LTL sweet spot but not large enough to fill a full trailer. The table below summarises the differences based on the source:
| Mode | Pickups / Drop-offs | Freight size | Cost impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Truckload (FTL) | One pickup, one drop-off | Full trailer | Standalone rate; no sharing |
| Shared Truckload | Two pickups, two drop-offs | 10-40 linear feet | 30-40% savings vs FTL |
| Less-than-Truckload (LTL) | Multiple stops | Below 10 linear feet | LTL sweet spot for smaller freight |
Dillon said the savings can compound to "hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars" annually for shippers moving hundreds of shipments through the mode. The model also pays carriers more than a traditional one-pickup, one-drop full truckload move because two shipments generate a larger combined revenue base per load. Flock's core carrier is a standard full truckload operator, and routing is engineered to minimize out-of-route miles and avoid long layovers, according to FreightWaves.
"When you think about what Shared Truckload can do by driving higher utilization while still maintaining FTL level service and velocity throughout your system, it really resonates with enterprise shippers all the way down to SMB shippers," Dillon said.
Cargo Security and Carrier Vetting
Adding an extra pickup, drop, and seal break to each load raises cargo security concerns. FreightWaves reported that Flock has invested across cybersecurity, carrier vetting, seal requirements, and law enforcement relationships. The company's shipper base includes some of the largest importers in the country, which Dillon said have been targets of sophisticated cargo theft rings. The post-Montgomery judgment liability environment has also driven investment in carrier vetting and insurance coverage, with the brokerage industry facing "enhanced scrutiny" over the past six months.
Technology Behind Instant Pricing and Commitment
The matching process is rooted in what Dillon called the "vehicle routing problem," a classic operations research discipline. FreightWaves reported that Flock prices and commits to shared truckload shipments instantaneously — without first confirming a pairing exists — using a proprietary dataset built over a decade of operations. The platform continuously reoptimizes across thousands of partial shipments simultaneously, balancing lowest pooling cost against probability of execution and service compliance.
Market Shift After the Freight Recession
Dillon said the market has shifted: "It's been such a shipper-centric market over the last 2 or 3 years. And now it's kind of maybe switched to more of a provider-centric market. So I think it's totally changed the paradox and people are looking for new solutions."
The freight recession of 2024 and 2025 was difficult for the model, as incumbent FTL providers offered rates shippers hadn't seen in a decade. "We grinded our way out during the freight recession," Dillon said. "It wasn't easy for us as it wasn't for any other freight brokerage." Now, rising FTL spot rates in 2026 are accelerating shipper adoption after two years of soft rates suppressed demand for the mode, according to FreightWaves.
Implications for Shippers and Operators
For logistics managers, freight forwarders, and 3PL operators, shared truckload offers a cost lever as FTL spot rates climb. FreightWaves reported the 30-40% cost savings versus standalone truckload, with savings compounding over years two and three of a relationship. The model also pays carriers more than a traditional FTL move because two shipments generate a larger combined revenue base per load, according to FreightWaves. The approach resonates with enterprise shippers down to SMBs, Dillon said. For those concerned about cargo security, Flock has invested in cybersecurity, carrier vetting, seal requirements, and law enforcement relationships, and has responded to post-Montgomery liability scrutiny with additional insurance coverage. Shippers receive instant pricing and commitment without waiting for a pairing to be confirmed, and the platform continuously reoptimizes across thousands of partial shipments.
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