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.
#Contract Rates
27 posts tagged with this topic.
Petroleum Fleet Rankings Shift: What Carrier Growth Means for Rates
Andrews Logistics and S. Coraluzzo/Torrissi Transport climb in FleetOwner's 2026 petroleum carrier rankings. Two new fleets crack the top 10.
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.
Trucking Gained in Q1 as Supply Tightened, ATA Economist Says
Bob Costello warns headwinds remain despite first-quarter rate gains driven by capacity exits.
Why Dedicated Fleets Cut Fuel Risk and Driver Churn for Small Carriers
Modern dedicated transportation models transfer fuel volatility and labor instability off your books: without the capital outlay of a private fleet.
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.
Hormuz Oil Flows Down 6 Million Barrels a Day, Diesel Watch Begins
Strait of Hormuz crude and fuel flows fell nearly 30% in Q1, the Energy Information Administration reports. Small fleets face diesel price exposure if the drop…
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…
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…
Contract Rates Up 8% Since Fall as Capacity Stays Tight Through Mid-Year
Long-term contract rates climbed roughly 8% from last fall, with spot and contract pricing both rising as tender rejection rates stay elevated and shippers…