The Top 6 Problems in Long-Haul Freight (And How to Solve Them)

Long-haul freight will eat your margins alive—if you let it.

Fuel prices are up. Driver availability is down. Regulations are stacking faster than your dispatch board can keep up. If you’re in this industry, you already know—it’s not for the unprepared.

And the pressure’s not just a feeling. According to the American Transportation Research Institute, fuel costs alone jumped nearly 35% year-over-year, becoming the single biggest expense for most carriers. Add in compliance risks, cargo blind spots, and maintenance delays, and you’re not just managing trucks—you’re putting out fires.

But here’s the upside: these issues are fixable.

The fleets that thrive aren’t grinding harder. They’re getting smarter—solving core problems with tech that cuts through the noise. In this article, we’re breaking down six of the biggest challenges in long-haul freight—and showing you how to turn them into real-world wins.

Problem #1: Inefficient Route Planning Bleeds Fuel and Time

You’ve got the drivers. You’ve got the freight. But if your routes aren’t optimized, you’re wasting both—daily.
Think about it:

• Drivers stuck in traffic for hours
• Missed delivery windows because of poor ETA projections
• Detours that could’ve been avoided
• Dispatchers juggling manual spreadsheets and making routing calls on gut instinct

It all adds up to lost time, burned fuel, and delivery delays you can’t afford.

Here’s how top-performing fleets are flipping the script:

AI-powered route optimization tools take the guesswork out of the equation. These systems analyze live traffic patterns, weather disruptions, fuel stop options, and road closures in real time—then create the most efficient route based on cost, time, and delivery urgency.

Add in Transportation Management System (TMS) integrations to sync dispatch updates and push job assignments directly to driver apps, and your entire operation becomes faster, smoother, and easier to scale.

The result? Lower fuel costs, fewer delays, and dispatchers who aren’t stuck firefighting all day.

Up next, let’s talk about something that’s costing fleets big—compliance mistakes.

Problem #2: ELD & Compliance Mistakes Cost You Big

DOT audits. Hours of Service rules. Logbook errors. In long-haul freight, a single misstep on compliance doesn’t just slow you down—it hits your bottom line.

And yet, many fleets still rely on drivers to manually log hours or back-office teams to reconcile records under pressure.

What does that lead to?

• Drivers forgetting to log breaks or duty status changes
• Incomplete records that trigger fines during inspections
• Audit scrambles where no one’s quite sure what’s missing—or where to find it

The fix? Automate it.

Modern ELD systems paired with real-time HOS tracking eliminate guesswork. Drivers get in-cab reminders and automated logging, while compliance managers have a live dashboard view of duty status across the entire fleet.

Need to prep for an inspection? Pull accurate logs in seconds. Need to reduce violations? Set up alerts before they become penalties.

No more chasing paperwork. No more surprise fines. Just stress-free audits and a fleet that’s always in compliance mode.

Let’s move into a challenge that hits even harder—unsafe driving behavior and the liability it brings.

Problem #3: Risky Driving Creates Liability and Downtime

It only takes one incident to put your entire operation under a microscope.

Speeding. Tailgating. Texting behind the wheel. Whether it ends in a near miss or a full-blown crash, risky driving habits increase insurance premiums, damage your brand, and put your people—and cargo—at risk.

The real problem? You often don’t know it’s happening until it’s too late.

That’s where AI dash cams come in.

These smart systems do more than just record—they detect unsafe behaviors in real time and alert drivers to course-correct instantly. Think of it as a virtual co-pilot that never blinks.

Here’s what you get:

• Instant alerts for speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, and more
• Driver scorecards that track performance trends over time
• Auto-triggered coaching sessions to improve safety without slowing operations
• Event video playback so you can review incidents, resolve disputes, and reduce liability fast

Safer driving leads to fewer accidents, lower downtime, and real reductions in insurance costs. And when your drivers know they’re supported, not just monitored, culture improves too.

Next up—let’s tackle a quieter, more expensive issue: fuel waste you don’t even see.

Problem #4: Fuel Waste You Don’t Even See

Fuel isn’t just expensive—it’s one of your biggest ongoing costs. And while route planning helps, it’s not the only place fleets lose fuel.

The real drain? It’s in the idle time, inefficient loads, and unnoticed leaks that sneak by day after day.

Common signs you’re leaking money at the pump:

• High idle times during loading, waiting, or traffic
• Half-full trailers eating up fuel on every mile
• Fuel theft or drainage events that don’t get flagged in time

Here’s how tech-driven fleets are cutting the waste:

• Idle-time reporting tracks which vehicles are burning fuel while standing still—so you can coach drivers and adjust schedules
• Cargo sensors help optimize space and prevent underloaded runs
• Fuel monitoring systems alert you to sudden drops or unusual consumption patterns—pinpointing theft or equipment issues fast

When you start tracking fuel like a critical asset—not just an expense line—you gain control over one of the most volatile parts of your budget.

Now let’s shift focus to the cargo itself—because visibility issues with trailers and loads are another major pain point for long-haul teams.

Problem #5: Trailer & Cargo Visibility Gaps

You can’t manage what you can’t see. And when it comes to trailers and cargo, that lack of visibility leads to delays, miscommunication, and lost productivity.

Here’s what that looks like in the real world:

• Trailers go missing—or sit idle for days without anyone noticing
• Cargo arrives late, but no one knows when it left or where it stalled
• Support teams scramble for answers when customers ask, “Where’s my shipment?”

The solution? Put your trailers and cargo on the map—literally.

With solar-powered GPS and Bluetooth trailer trackers, you can monitor location and movement in real time, even when trailers are unhooked. Add in shock, door, and load sensors, and now you’re tracking not just where the cargo is, but how it’s being handled.

Want to tighten things even more? Set up geofence alerts so you’re notified the moment a trailer enters or leaves a yard, warehouse, or customer location.

The result: better planning, faster turnarounds, fewer surprises, and full asset accountability.

And now, to close the loop—let’s talk about the last (but definitely not least) piece of the puzzle: preventing breakdowns before they happen.

Problem #6: Delayed Maintenance That Turns Into Downtime

A late oil change here. A missed inspection there. Then suddenly—boom—one of your trucks is out of service on the side of the highway, throwing your entire delivery schedule into chaos.
Unplanned maintenance doesn’t just cost money. It creates cascading delays, unhappy customers, and unnecessary stress for everyone from drivers to dispatch.

Why does it keep happening?

• Maintenance schedules are tracked in outdated spreadsheets
• Service reminders rely on manual updates
• Small issues get missed until they turn into big, expensive ones

The smarter move? Go predictive.

With engine-integrated telematics, you can track fault codes, mileage, and run-time data in real time. Then pair that with:

• Automated service reminders based on usage, not guesswork
• Predictive diagnostics that flag issues early
• Work order systems to track service history, costs, and downtime by vehicle

That means fewer roadside emergencies, better asset utilization, and repairs that actually get done before things break—not after.

So, where does that leave you? Right at the edge of a smarter, smoother, more profitable operation.

Let’s bring it all together.

Solve the Problems That Actually Move the Needle

Long-haul freight isn’t easy—but the real threat isn’t the pressure. It’s letting everyday problems go unchecked.

From delayed maintenance to risky driving, every inefficiency chips away at your margins. The good news? These aren’t just “part of the job.” They’re solvable.

The fleets pulling ahead aren’t guessing their way through. They’re leveraging real-time data, automating compliance, optimizing fuel use, and taking a proactive approach to safety and maintenance.

And that’s the difference between staying afloat—and leading the pack.

Long-Haul Freight Management, Done Right

At GoFleet, we help freight operators stop playing defense and start running smarter. With tools built for real-world fleet challenges—from AI route planning to predictive diagnostics—we make it easier to stay efficient, compliant, and in control.

Book a demo today to see how GoFleet can help you take back your time, reduce risk, and boost profitability—one mile at a time.