20 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation ajot.com [email protected] / 912-201-0050 / 866-522-2200 Your Just-In-Time turnkey facility in Savannah, GA! • Trucking / Heavy Haul / OOG • Drayage • Warehousing / Rail / Import / Export • Project Cargo / Crane / Escort has gone from a potential strategy to reality for many shippers. Supply chain outsourcing was once driven largely by lower labor costs outside the US. Today, however, companies are placing greater empha- sis on reducing exposure to tariff vola- tility and geopolitical risk. As a result, many shipments that were previously imported are now moving as domestic freight, increasing demand for flatbed trailers to transport heavy machinery and manufacturing parts across mul- tiple industries. These shipments also increase the demand for limited flat- bed trucking capacity. Carriers and Owner-operators are Leaving the Industry amid Mounting Pressures Over the past five years, the trucking industry has faced significant challenges. Rising operating costs, including fuel and insurance, have reduced profits. At the same time, carriers continue to contend with a driver shortage that is likely to worsen because of recent regulatory changes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a Final Rule on February 13, 2026, which took effect on March 16, 2026, introducing stricter requirements for commercial driver’s license eligi- bility. The new regulations sharply limit who qualifies for non-domi- ciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders. Employment autho- rization documents alone are no longer sufficient. The FMCSA estimates this rule will affect approximately 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders who will exit the market over the next two years as their credentials come up for renewal. State Driver’s Licensing Agencies are now required to verify every applicant’s lawful immigration status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system before issuing, renewing, or upgrading a CDL, and all transactions must be done in person. These and other challenges have resulted in many providers leaving the industry. In the first half of 2026, over 200 trucking companies filed for bankruptcy, a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Industry reporting describes 2026 as a year of “historic” carrier exits, with thou- sands of small fleets and owner-oper- ators leaving the industry. Early-2025 trends suggested 1,500+ companies closing on a weekly basis, and April 2025 alone saw 7,474 exits. While these rates slowed in 2026, the scale remains large. Flatbed Trucks Require Unique Capabilities Flatbed trucks are considered more difficult to own and operate than other trucks for several reasons. Drivers must frequently load and unload cargo, which requires signif- icant physical effort. Operators must ensure cargo is properly secured, a process involving strong straps and tarps, increasing the risk of injury. Drivers often handle oversized or irregularly shaped loads, compli- cating transport and requiring com- pliance with strict safety guidelines. These factors make the truck driver shortage even more difficult for carri- ers to address. Strategies to Help Shippers Manage Decreased Flatbed Capacity In 2026, flatbed capacity is struc- turally constrained, not just temporar- ily tight. Shippers who forecast early, diversify carriers, optimize loads, and monitor market signals will have more options and better pricing. Those who wait will face limited choices, making it difficult to serve customers during times of peak demand. (STRONG – continued from page 8) BigLift completes transport of foundation scope for the REEF project BigLift Shipping successfully completed 10 project voyages for the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF), AltaGas and Vopak’s joint venture project. Starting in June 2024, BigLift safely transported equipment and infra- structure using four BigLift vessels: m/v Happy Dragon, m/v Pottersgracht, m/v Happy Star and m/v Happy Sky. The project began with the safe transportation of steel structures, marine piles and specialized equipment using BigLift’s Happy Dragon. Logistical challenges included the pre-sorting of hundreds of piles varying in length, weight and diameter, as well as con- tinuously adapting vessel schedules to accommodate REEF’s delivery and installation requirements. Through careful planning and close collabora- tion with AltaGas, these challenges were successfully managed, resulting in smooth discharge operations and an optimized logistics sequence that improved overall project efficiency. The next scope saw BigLift’s P14-type vessel, m/v Pottersgracht, deliver the first two trestle modules for the Jetty, forming part of the liq- uids export piers extending from the shoreline to the offshore loading facil- ity. Also included were modules for the pipe rack system connecting to the rail offload racks and Uplands facility, BigLift’s Happy S-type vessels safely transported and installed the remain- ing 11 trestle modules, together with the Transition Platform. Throughout the project, BigLift’s engineering team optimized vessel intake capacities for each shipment, ensuring efficient cargo configura- tions while maintaining the high- est safety standards. In addition, the team designed a versatile temporary mooring system to safely position the Happy S-type vessels within the marine spread. Engineered for reuse across multiple mooring locations, the system provided a flexible and cost-efficient solution, contributing to safe, stable and efficient installa- tion operations.
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