Trucking Gained in Q1 as Supply Tightened, ATA Economist Says
Bob Costello warns headwinds remain despite first-quarter rate gains driven by capacity exits.
Markets & Rates
Spot and contract freight rates, fuel prices, capacity, lane trends, and freight demand.
Roadcheck Week Pushed Spot Rates Higher as Capacity Tightened
Annual inspection blitz sidelined trucks and lifted buy rates, adding pressure to an already tight freight market entering summer shipping season.
Port Houston Container Volumes Drop 10% in April, May Rebound Expected
Port Houston handled 353,319 TEUs in April, down 10% month-over-month and 9% year-over-year, marking the first quarterly container decline since early 2025.…
Spot Rates Hit Multiyear Highs: Dry Van $2.01, Reefer $2.36, Flatbed $2.70
All three equipment types posted year-over-year gains above 23% as weekly rates climbed across the board.
DOT Enforcement Tightens Capacity as Spot Rates Climb in Q1
First-quarter enforcement activity pulled carriers off the road, shrinking available capacity and lifting spot rates: a supply-driven recovery that changes the…
Spot and Contract Rates Edge Higher in Q1 as Capacity Tightens
Both spot and contract rates moved up during the first quarter while carriers focused on internal efficiency and operational improvements.
Bid Season Pricing Gains Signal Shift After Three-Quarter Downturn
Carriers report better pricing power in Q1 2026 contract negotiations as capacity exits and spot rates firm: the first sustained leverage shift since mid-2023.
Spot Rates Up 20%, But It's Tariff Panic, Not Recovery
National dry van spot rates are up more than 20% year over year as of mid-May, driven by importers front-loading inventory ahead of tariff escalation. The…
Spot Rates Jump 4¢ Dry Van, 10¢ Reefer as All Three Segments Climb
Dry van spot rates rose 4¢ last week to $2.00/mile, reefer climbed 10¢, and flatbed added 8¢: all three segments now running 25–38% above year-ago levels.
Hormuz Shut Since May 5, No Tankers Through, Diesel Still Climbing
Iran halted all transits through the Strait of Hormuz three days ago and imposed new shipowner reporting rules. Crude and diesel prices remain elevated despite…
Diesel Hit Record Seasonal Levels Mid-April as War Costs Squeeze Margins
Box manufacturers struggle to pass transportation cost spikes downstream, a signal that freight buyers are pushing back on fuel surcharges even as diesel…
Brent Crude Back Over $100 as Hormuz Closure Drags Into Second Week
Brent rose 1.8% to $101.80/bbl May 8 after a volatile morning: diesel costs remain elevated as the strait stays shut.