Rates rise as capacity tightens despite sluggish freight demand, U.S. Bank report finds

Truckload rates in the United States are climbing even as freight demand remains muted, pointing to a supply-driven shift in pricing power, according to new quarterly data from U.S. Bank…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Spot rates continue to climb as market tightens

The spot market is suddenly on fire, and one analyst says it’s the first time in about four years that it would be considered tight. That’s good news for truckers…

This is how Best Fleets navigate volatility as customer dynamics and economy shift

After years of shipper-driven pricing and excess capacity, fleets say early signs of a market recovery are beginning to shift leverage back toward carriers, even though the effects of the…

Trucking activity slips in Q4, warning signs build for 2026

Trucking-related economic activity stalled in the final quarter of 2025, with mounting headwinds pointing to a challenging year ahead, according to a new report from MacKay & Company. The firm’s…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Trailer orders drop sharply, spot market reflects rising diesel costs

Trailer orders disappointed in February, dropping sharply from December-January totals and reflecting ongoing concerns about the freight market. And while spot market rates continue to improve, they’re growing more slowly…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Latest industry conditions improve for truckers, but are ominous for shippers

Increasing optimism for truckers has them digging into their wallets to order new Class 8 trucks, while a surge in data center construction is boosting vocational truck demand. The U.S.

Economic indicators offer early signals for truck demand

Economic indicators ranging from GDP and housing activity to fuel prices and interest rates play a critical role in shaping demand for commercial vehicles. Understanding how these signals affect different…

ATA’s Costello says trucking’s ‘painfully slow’ recovery driven by shrinking capacity, not freight demand

Fleets attending the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) annual convention in Orlando, Fla., last week were eager for Bob Costello’s economic outlook update for 2026, hoping to hear the long-anticipated news…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Class 8 orders surge as spot rates remain strong

Class 8 orders surged in February as trucking conditions continue to improve and fleets begin to gain confidence to place orders ahead of EPA27 emissions-related price increases. And pricing improvements…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Industry sentiment improving and spot market flatbed rates continue to rip

ACT Research recently held a two-day seminar and reports fleets are feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the year ahead, while remaining cautious about ordering new equipment. They want to first make…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Plenty of good news in this week’s trucking data

If you’re a Class 8 truck maker or dealer, a carrier, or a spot market freight hauler, industry conditions are improving, both in the United States and Canada. That’s according…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Winter storms cause spot rate surge and truck buyers stepped up in January

Truckers hauling spot market freight through recent winter storms were rewarded with unprecedented rate increases, according to the latest data from truckstop.com. And the news was also good for truck…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Trailer market comes to life, Class 8 fleet older than it’s been in a decade

Trailer buyers stepped up in December, possibly in an attempt to get ahead of tariff pass-throughs. The Class 8 fleet continues to age and is older than it’s been in…

ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Trucking sentiment improving, reflecting ‘cautious optimism’

The mood in trucking is improving, ever so slowly, based on the latest reports to cross our desks. ACT Research characterizes it as ‘cautious optimism’ as clarity around EPA27 emissions…

Trucking rates have bottomed, but catalyst needed to drive meaningful gains in 2026

After three years of rate misery, the freight market is showing signs it may finally be stabilizing. But if you’re waiting for a clean, confident trucking-rate recovery year in 2026,…