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CCJ Top 250
Spot market
Freight demand
Surging diesel and tightening capacity continue to push rates higher
Even as freight demand lagged behind last year's levels, a pre-holiday capacity squeeze and spike in fuel surcharges pushed spot market rates up across every trailer category ahead of the peak fall shipping season.
September 9, 2026
Freight demand
Truckload rates continue surge as CDL regs squeeze driver capacity
Truckload spot rates surged 32.4% in the second quarter as federal regulatory enforcement drastically reduced carrier capacity, pushing rate inflation to levels unseen since 2021 despite muted overall demand.
August 25, 2026
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October 12, 2026
Indicators
Fuel prices and seasonal slump ease truckload rates, but market far ahead of 2025
Underlying market demand is exceptionally strong compared to last year, with spot rates up 50% and market demand nearly double 2025 levels, giving carriers significant pricing leverage.
June 23, 2026
Business
Rates climb, fuel costs soar, and carriers are caught in the middle
Volumes surged to their highest level since 2022, but analysts warn that diesel prices are turning rate gains into an illusion for cash-strapped carriers.
April 1, 2026
Business
California’s winter truck shortage signals potential spring produce crisis
Inventory depletion meets enforcement-driven capacity loss as California’s winter truck shortage signals trouble ahead for spring produce season.
January 28, 2026
Economic trends
FMCSA's CDL crackdown is fracturing freight networks
Checkpoint enforcement has carriers avoiding some states, pushing reefer load posts up 42% and rates 14 cents higher year over year.
November 3, 2025
Economic trends
Q3 2025 truckload forecast points to muted demand and potential for peak season rate pressure
Weak demand, fragile capacity, and shifting trade policy set the stage for a volatile second half of the year for truckload rates.
September 4, 2025
Spot market
Spot market loads surge as importers rush shipments ahead of tariff threats
Importers are moving fast to get ahead of tariff uncertainty.
May 2, 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
Indicators
Helene cleanup led to higher demand for flatbed capacity, DAT reports
Spot loads surge from Helene cleanup and brief ports’ strike, with Hurricane Milton to follow similar pattern.
October 9, 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
A stagnant freight environment is expected to continue throughout 2024
FTR Transportation Intelligence's outlook for the freight market in 2024 is stable with “very incremental improvement."
January 3, 2024
Economic trends
Report finds healing supply chain has been costly
Road freight, the largest chunk of logistics spending, saw little change in overall volume last year but capacity increased sharply and sent rates sliding.
June 20, 2023
Freight demand
Freight cycle near bottom
That spot rates have largely held onto the gains from Roadcheck suggests the freight market is close to its balance.
June 14, 2023
Economic trends
Spot market at bottom, contract projected to continue falling: FTR
The spot market is at the bottom and may have already turned the corner upward. The bad news? It's at the bottom. More from FTR's "State of Freight" presentation/discussion.
June 9, 2023
Economic trends
Recession likely still inbound in months ahead but freight outlook less pessimistic
Freight brokers near evenly spit on spot rate outlook but far less optimistic on contract rates.
February 13, 2023
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