June Import Volume Up 9.7% as Retailers Pull Peak Season Forward
Shippers accelerate cargo to dodge rising fuel costs and tariff risk. Early peak means more drayage loads through July, then a fall lull.
Markets & Rates
Spot and contract freight rates, fuel prices, capacity, lane trends, and freight demand.
Cross-Border Spot Rates Up 30% in Two Months as Produce, Fuel Squeeze
Uber Freight says some Mexico-U.S. corridors jumped 30% since February. Diesel hit $5.64/gallon in May. Reefer capacity is already tight.
Average Load Length Drops 21% Since 2024 as Intermodal Takes Long Haul
Outbound haul length fell from 607 miles to just above 500 miles in two years. Rail intermodal is winning transcontinental freight while short regional moves…
Intermodal Volume Up 10% as Trucking Rates Push Shippers to Rail
Rail intermodal traffic jumped 10% year-over-year in the week ending May 30, driven by shippers fleeing soaring truckload rates and tender rejections.
Industrial Production Drives Freight Recovery as PMI Hits 54.0
ISM manufacturing index climbs to highest level since May 2022. New orders at 56.8 signal rising freight volumes ahead for small fleets.
Transportation Prices Hit Record Growth Rate in May, Index at 96
Logistics Managers' Index logged a 96 reading for transportation prices in May, the fastest growth rate in the 10-year dataset, as capacity contracted and…
Dry Van Spot Rates Hit $2.27, Up 48% Year-Over-Year
All three equipment types posted gains last week as freight market tightens. Flatbed set new record at $2.87 per mile.
FedEx Freight CEO: Rate Recovery Will Hit Bumps Through 2026
John Smith says carriers and shippers should expect volatility even as spot and contract rates climb off multi-year lows.
Used Truck Prices Climb as Freight Recession Hangover Lifts
Auction lots are finally clearing inventory from the 2022-2023 downturn. What rising resale values mean for small fleets looking to buy or trade.
U.S. Exports Jump 4% in April, Shrinking Trade Deficit to $82.4B
Record crude and fuel shipments drove the export surge. Imports rose modestly as firms stockpile inventory against tariff and geopolitical risk.
Spot Rates Jump 21 to 52 Cents During International Roadcheck Week
Reefer saw the largest single-week increase on record. Dry van loads surged 36%, the biggest jump since January weather.
April Tonnage Flat After Q1 Climb, What the Stall Means for Rates
ATA's for-hire index held at 117.8 in April, up 3.5% year over year but unchanged month over month. The pause follows three months of gains.