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Freight demand
Freight demand
White hot spot rates pass contract rates for first time in 4 years
Trucking contract rates fall behind record-breaking spot rates.
July 9, 2026
Freight demand
Soaring rates give rise to new truck demand: 'We are clearly in fleet expansion territory'
Year-to-date orders have jumped 125% year over year, and the 2026 order season—spanning September 2025 to June 2026—is cumulatively pacing 36% ahead of last season.
July 8, 2026
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July 1, 2026
Freight demand
Freight rates surge despite falling volumes as capacity tightens, U.S. Bank report shows
Contract rates are up 9% Â while contract volumes plummeted from 1,051,696 to 739,184.
June 30, 2026
Business
Transportation prices hit record high
Fuel prices drove U.S. inflation to 4.2% in May, squeezing carrier networks and sending warehouse holding costs to their highest levels since 2022.
June 27, 2026
Freight demand
Bursting bubbles: Bob "Cold Water" Costello tempers carriers' economic optimism
ATA's chief economist said a tightening in capacity is slowly but surely leading to freight recovery, but he warned carriers not to get ahead of themselves with truck purchases because demand isn't strong enough to support that.
March 4, 2026
Economic trends
New 10% global duty dampens hope of post-tariff freight boom
New 10% global tariffs arrive too quickly to spark a freight pull-forward, experts say.
February 20, 2026
Economic trends
2026 brings a ‘marginless recovery’ as capacity shakeout accelerates
With freight volumes expected to recover steadily beginning in the spring but rate growth remaining anemic, carriers shouldn't expect a robust bounce-back in early 2026.
December 4, 2025
Economic trends
Trucking activity dipped in June: ATA
ATA reported that truck freight tonnage decreased 0.4% in June after falling 0.1% in May. Also: Electric charging station coming to NYC's Hunts Point, as Mack delivers first LR Electric refuse truck; South Dakota highway restrictions upcoming.
July 24, 2025
Economic trends
ATA's Costello shares tariff impact on economy, truck freight
It was starting to get better. You might have noticed it. Speaking Tuesday at the TRALA Annual Meeting, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said there was a brief period in the first quarter where macroeconomic indicators were trending up for trucking.
April 8, 2025
Freight demand
Cross border imports surged ahead of Trump tariffs. Boost could last '2 or 3 more weeks'
Trucking activity at the Port of Laredo — the busiest land port in the U.S. — jumped 48.5% year-over-year during the first three months this year.
April 2, 2025
Economic trends
RXO forecasts 2025 freight recovery despite current challenges
Trucking still faces some challenges but "green shoots" starting to emerge.
March 28, 2025
Economic trends
Small carriers talk solutions to market pressures
During Truckload's small carrier panel, four fleets discuss how they've traversed the past 27 months of a down freight economy.
March 20, 2025
Economic trends
The unknown of the 2025 freight economy
Bob Costello, chief economist at American Trucking Associations, shares his outlook on the freight economy for 2025.
March 18, 2025
Economic trends
ATA economist on trucking: It's getting a little bit better
There are glimmers of hope for a trucking rebound in 2025, although it could be an unsatisfying change of fortune.
October 14, 2024
Economic trends
The economy is again trucking's top concern, driver shortage continues to fall
While the driver shortage persists as a significant challenge in the trucking industry, the recent economic downturn has emerged as a more pressing concern for many businesses.
October 12, 2024
Freight demand
Truck tonnage hit 18-month high in August
ATA's Truck Tonnage Index showed an increase for the second month in a row in August. Also: Volvo delivers 70 VNR Electric trucks under grant program; Southeastern Freight Lines expands in Southwest; brokerage announces acquisition.
September 25, 2024
Economic trends
Owner-ops see mixed income gains with costs down, but wait for 'kickstart' on rates
Taking its midyear look at the last 12-month period, ATBS showed owner-operator income on average has been flat, though independents and leased flatbeds/reefers all posted modest gains.
September 20, 2024
Economic trends
FTR sees stable trucking capacity with slow, steady market recovery
"We are unlikely to go lower in terms of volume or rates. We're solid, but not showing any particular strength."
July 11, 2024
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Top Stories
CCJ Top 250
Skyrocketing insurance costs put the brakes on big trucking profits
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