Media Brands
For owner-operators
For trucking professionals
For contractors
For dealers and distributors
Data Solutions
Identifying active trucking fleets
Construction market intelligence
Ag equipment valuation data
Heavy equipment data & analytics
Motor carrier risk assessment
Specs, VIN decoding and values
Precision targeting at scale

Economic trends: Page 4

Economic trends
The capacity that drove the freight recovery could hinder it down the line
FTR Transportation Intelligence attributes the recent freight rate highs to shrinking capacity and a construction boom around AI data centers. But the regulatory enforcements driving further capacity decline could cause problems later when the market rebounds enough to demand it.
July 16, 2026
Truck driving on highway at sunset with golden sky and street lights
Economic trends
Trucking cost per mile sets new record high
Trucking costs have jumped in three of the last four years and they outpaced inflation last year.
July 15, 2026
Multiple semi-trucks traveling on a highway with red and blue cargo containers under a cloudy sky
Sponsor Content
Is your fleet a CNG fit? Get the free Route Scorecard now.
Chevron
October 22, 2026
Is your fleet a CNG fit? Get the free Route Scorecard now.
Freight demand
Tech boom masks consumer slump as shifting freight market hits record high
The U.S. carrier population has dropped by more than 50,000 in the past 12 months.
July 14, 2026
Red and yellow semi-truck hauling construction equipment on a multi-lane interstate highway with green trees and hills in background
Economic trends
What 10 million vehicle moves reveal about the state of auto transport
Auto transport is changing fast. The latest freight data on long-haul growth shows shifting per-mile rates and why tech-driven carriers are winning the market.
July 10, 2026
Auto carrier trailer transporting multiple vehicles on a highway with trees lining the roadside
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
Red semi-truck loaded with metal coils in industrial warehouse facility with overhead cranes and metal storage
Economic trends
Trucking conditions hit all-time high in May | Quantix names new CEO
Prior to May, the most favorable FTR Trucking Conditions Index reading for carriers had been 16.8 in February 2021. Also: Quantix's new CEO to take over July 20; Kentucky cracking down on speeding this month; truck busted hauling cocaine in Tennessee.
July 9, 2026
White and black semi-trucks parked at warehouse loading dock with industrial building
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
Heavy-duty truck engine assembly on production line in industrial manufacturing facility with overhead lighting and equipment
Freight demand
Freight rates surge despite falling volumes as capacity tightens, U.S. Bank report shows
Contract rates are up 9%  while contract volumes plummeted from 1,051,696 to 739,184.
June 30, 2026
U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index rates edition showing dry van rates and volumes from May 2025 to May 2026 with spot, contract, and fuel pricing data.
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
Container ship loaded with colorful cargo at port terminal with cranes and trucks at sunset
Artificial Intelligence
State of Logistics Report: Persistent disruption is the new normal
Competitive advantage among logistics providers will be forged through the ability to deliver profitable growth while managing disruption, which is here to stay, according to Kearney's 37th annual Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals State of Logistics Report.
June 26, 2026
Semi-truck with cargo container at busy shipping port with stacked containers under blue sky
Economic trends
Truck tonnage drops for second straight month
Trucking activity decreased by 2% in May after falling by 0.9% in April, ATA reported. Also: Load board adds carrier-specific load recommendations based on equipment, lanes, app usage; Trucking Cares Foundation continues support for Texas driving school.
June 26, 2026
ATA Truck Tonnage Index chart showing May 2026 data with 2% decline, displaying monthly tonnage trends from 2022 to 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
Industrial cable spool truck transporting large reels on highway with other vehicles
Economic trends
Tight capacity, not freight boom, fueling 2026 rate surge
Supply disruptions, not demand are pushing truckload spot rates to multi-year highs across all equipment types.
June 15, 2026
Black and white Peterbilt semi-truck with chrome details parked at a truck stop
Economic trends
Fuel, regulations and demand squeeze capacity
Soaring fuel costs, regulations and counter-seasonal demand spikes are rapidly draining truckload capacity. The squeeze is here to stay through peak season.
June 12, 2026
Blue Peterbilt semi-truck hauling cargo container on rural highway under cloudy sky
Economic trends
Federal enforcement and Supreme Court ruling reshape the truckload market
Truckload spot rates jumped in Q1 as carrier attrition and federal enforcement squeeze supply.
June 9, 2026
Red and silver semi-truck with cargo trailer driving on desert highway during golden hour sunset
Economic trends
ABF increasing its LTL rates this month
ArcBest and ABF Freight will increase rates by about 6%. Also: Trucking conditions surged to their strongest level in more than four years in April; ODFL reported a 12.3% increase in daily revenue for May 2026 despite a dip in tonnage.
June 9, 2026
Two ABF Freight tractor-trailers parked at a distribution facility with company signage
Economic trends
Class 8 truck orders extend winning streak in May
Class 8 truck orders beat expectations in May, extending a four-month streak of triple-digit year-over-year growth.
June 8, 2026
Red semi-truck backed up to industrial warehouse loading dock with numbered bay doors
Economic trends
April trailer orders signal progress
Defying the typical seasonal softness, April trailer orders continued to build momentum.
May 21, 2026
Row of white refrigerated trailers parked side by side on dirt ground under blue sky
Previous Page
Page 4 of 85
Next Page
Top Stories
Red semi-truck with green cargo trailer driving on highway with motion blur
Freight demand
Truckload rates hold steady as holiday freight season tests limited capacity
Truckload rates remain near historic highs and carriers retain strong negotiating leverage as rising peak-season freight volumes meet limited equipment capacity and elevated fuel costs.
Mechanic selecting tools from organized toolbox containing wrenches, sockets, and hand tools
Components
Heavy-Duty parts inflation slows to .4% nationwide, masking steep regional swings
Union Pacific diesel locomotives lined up on railroad tracks in a rail yard under clear sky
Freight demand
Proposed rail merger would slash 2.1 billion long-distance truck miles from the highway annually, report finds
Four colorful semi-trucks parked in front of Roane Transportation facility building with wooded hillside background
Mergers & Acquisitions
PS Logistics expands flatbed footprint with Roane Transportation acquisition
Red elephant and blue donkey facing off against American flag background, symbolizing Republican and Democratic political opposition.
Industry
Democratic sweep of Congress sets up high-stakes battle over trucking regulations
Get all the info on the top 250 trucking companies in America
View, sort and download the trucking industry’s most comprehensive ranking of for-hire carriers in North America, based on a blend of metrics including fleet size, annual revenue and number of drivers.
Get the free report
White Papers
Is your fleet a CNG fit?
Get the free Route Scorecard now.
DownloadView All