🎣 Transportation Jobs Update

Happy Tuesday.

The freight job market just posted another month of gains, but not nearly as big a jump as in March.

• Truck transportation jobs ticked up in April

• Unemployment in transportation drops

• Tariff uncertainty fuels warehouse demand

• And more...

We’re breaking it all down for you here.

Hiring Slows Down

April Labor Market Update

The transportation sector added fewer jobs in April compared to March.

With truck transportation employment growth downshifting sharply, just 1,400 new jobs in April, it’s clear that more capacity isn’t translating into more freight. And in this market, that means continued pressure on rates.

April Numbers Snapshot

• +29,000 jobs in transportation and warehousing

• 3.3% logistics unemployment — well below the national average

• 16% of total U.S. job gains came from this sector

• Truck transportation: +1,400 jobs (flat m/m, still down y/y)

• Average earnings: $31.39/hour

By Mode (Seasonally Adjusted)

• Warehousing & Storage: 1,853,400 jobs (+0.5% m/m)

• Truck Transportation: 1,524,500 jobs (+0.1% m/m, -0.3% y/y)

• Air, Rail, Transit: Slight gains

• Water Transport: Continued decline

The job growth is largely tied to pre-tariff freight pulls and short-term inventory surges.

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Private Sector Layoffs

Despite the hiring, corrections loom large:

• UPS is slashing 355 jobs in California, part of the “largest network reconfiguration in UPS history.”

• FedEx cutting 305 in Texas.

• Amazon, F&S Produce, L&T Precision shedding over 350 jobs combined.

These cuts reflect realignment, not collapse, but they do suggest a long-term recalibration in warehousing and contract logistics.

Meanwhile at DOT: Internal Shakeups

More than 4,000 DOT employees have accepted resignation offers under Trump’s federal workforce overhaul.

• Some are being asked to stay to avoid operational risk

• DOT insists safety functions won’t be compromised

This adds another layer of instability just as the private sector looks for regulatory clarity.

Bottom Line

In this market, more trucks mean more pain. Until capacity exits the system faster, rate recovery will stall. For many stakeholders, a true turnaround means fewer players, not more.

Stability only returns when the market has room to breathe.

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