This is usually lethal. They are thickened with lignin. Fiber cells and sclereids are of this type. Water mainly moves through tracheids and vessel elements. Secondary walls and cells are actually dead at maturity.
Gymnosperms have tracheids, but no vessels.
Pits in the walls permit flow in tracheids. Beginning with land plants, there were difficulties with availability of water. The material is bound on one side of the membrane, and released on the other. This requires energy. This creates an energy gradient.