As we progress into the final quarter of 2025, we reflect on the challenges the industry has faced, but more importantly, we give credit to the resiliency and resourcefulness of our team in the face of a multitude of pressures impacting our business.

Somerset, through the strength of its people, has not only weathered the storm, but we’ve shown measurable increases in productivity and agent success due to one critical factor: the type of people we have on our team.

This progress is no accident. It stems from our unparalleled support, our proven management philosophy, and our deep understanding of what freight agents actually need, especially in times when the market is anything but predictable.

Freight Industry Stabilizing, But Pressures Are Shifting

According to Brush Pass Research, the dramatic decline in freight brokerage count seen in recent years is beginning to stabilize.

In January 2025, the net loss was just 63 brokerages, a notable slowdown from prior months. This points to what many analysts are calling a “new normal”: a leaner, more sustainable freight environment after the volatility of 2022–2024.

Freight volumes are holding steady. Capacity remains fragmented by region and commodity. And while spot rates see brief upswings, contract freight remains the foundation for most shippers.

The takeaway?

The worst may be behind us, but what lies ahead requires focus, discipline, and the right partners.

Freight Agents Are Asking Smarter Questions

More agents than ever are evaluating their broker relationships. They’re watching for:

• Carrier payments being delayed
• Customer credit limits quietly shrinking
• Increasing internal confusion due to reactive policy changes
• Silence when they ask for support

In short? Agents are noticing the cracks in many brokerages.

At Somerset, our response is simple: show up. We continue to invest in the back-office personnel, platforms, and support systems our agents rely on, because you can’t scale your book of business if your broker is scaling chaos.

Technology + Regulation Will Define 2026

Looking ahead, here’s what’s shaping the 2026 landscape:

Margin Pressure Will Intensify

Rising operating costs and tighter compliance are driving brokers to prove cost-to-serve value to shippers. Only those with real operational visibility, strong credit, and infrastructure will thrive.

New Regulations Are Already Impacting Capacity

In Q4 2025, a renewed federal push on driver English proficiency enforcement has already sidelined thousands of drivers. That’s led to carrier gaps, especially in regional markets. Brokers without deep carrier networks or risk planning are already feeling the pinch.

Digital Freight Tools Are No Longer Optional

Brokers are doubling down on TMS upgrades, automation, and visibility tools. Why? Because shippers demand answers, and brokerages that rely on outdated systems are already falling behind.

Why Somerset Is Positioned for What’s Next

Let’s be honest: many freight agents are quietly being asked to settle.

To work in programs where customer conflicts are ignored.
Where service response times stretch into days.
Where financial instability gets covered up with big marketing promises.

Not here.

At Somerset, we:

• Run strict customer conflict checks before onboarding
• Turn away agents if their customers overlap with our current team
• Offer true ownership of your book, no gimmicks, no fine print
• Continue to expand tech, compliance, and support, without losing our personal touch
• Stay 100% independently owned and debt-free, with zero outside investors pulling the strings

We’re not being forced to “adapt” to the freight environment.
We were built for it.

From Uncertainty to Clarity

2026 will reward the prepared – those brokerages that planned ahead, the agents who refused to compete internally for scraps, and the teams that bet on structure – not saturation.

Somerset is proud to be that kind of company, and we’re proud of every agent who made the choice to work with a brokerage that still does business the right way.

If you’re feeling the strain, or watching your brokerage shift into survival mode, now’s the time to ask the hard questions.

And if the answers aren’t clear? We’d love to talk.