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 6

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
Economist presenting truckload freight economic indicators with animated supply chain visualization featuring delivery truck and robotic automation
Economic trends
The regulatory storm reshaping supply chains in 2026
From Supreme Court tariff rulings to the Dalilah Law, 2026 brings new compliance stakes for shippers.
February 27, 2026
Truck driver in denim jacket checking smartphone and tablet with commercial vehicles in background
Sponsor Content
Stop Costly Torque Guesswork Before It Hits Uptime
Fullbay
November 4, 2026
Stop Costly Torque Guesswork Before It Hits Uptime
Economic trends
RXO's report says freight rates are surging without a demand recovery
RXO's latest Curve report reveals why spot rates are at a four-year high even as freight volumes stay depressed.
February 24, 2026
Blue Freightliner semi-truck with white trailer driving on highway through tree-lined road
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
Aerial view of colorful shipping containers stacked at a busy port terminal with organized rows and pathways
Regulations
Supreme Court spikes Trump's tariffs, imports could surge in the near-term
With the administration’s trade framework in tatters, imports could see a short-term spike, giving rise to spot market rates.
February 20, 2026
White commercial truck with chrome grille and dual headlights at shipping container facility
Economic trends
U.S. trailer orders hold steady in January, lag behind last year's pace
U.S. trailer orders held near 24,000 units in January as tariffs, freight trends, and aging fleets shaped near-term demand.
February 19, 2026
Row of white shipping trailers parked on gravel lot under blue sky
Economic trends
Winter weather and strong economy push trucking conditions to best levels since 2022
FTR's Trucking Conditions Index hits its highest level since 2022 as winter storms drive spot rates up 17%.
February 13, 2026
Red and white semi-truck driving on desert highway at sunset
Economic trends
Is the Class 8 orders surge real growth or just catch-up buying?
As Class 8 truck orders jumped 27% in January, analysts warn the surge reflects delayed purchases rather than real market recovery.
February 9, 2026
Red semi-truck driving on an empty highway through dry grassland under blue sky
Business
Navigating trucking’s endemic challenges
With per-mile costs rising faster than inflation, 2026 is a year for smart prioritization.
January 30, 2026
Semi-truck driving on highway at golden sunset with headlights illuminated
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
White semi-truck driving on snowy mountain highway surrounded by pine trees
Economic trends
Major winter storm coming. What does this mean for the freight industry?
A powerful winter storm threatens major freight corridors from Texas to the Northeast. Here's what freight analysts expect for spot rates, capacity, and costs.
January 23, 2026
Red semi-truck and other trucks driving on snowy highway during winter storm
Economic trends
Trailer orders jumped 86% in December, but recovery remains elusive
December trailer orders is up 86%, but analysts warn the spike is driven by temporary factors rather than market recovery.
January 21, 2026
White semi-truck trailer driving on mountain highway with blue sky
Economic trends
Trucking shows November gains, though recovery remains uncertain
Rising rates and capacity cuts lifted trucking conditions, but manufacturing data still points to weak demand.
January 15, 2026
Red semi-truck driving on an empty highway through dry grassland under blue sky
Economic trends
Spot and contract rates hold steady in 2025, but shrinking carrier pool signals trouble ahead
Spot rates jumped 3% in October then fell in November. But the real story is what's happening beneath the surface with carrier capacity.
January 13, 2026
Red and white semi-truck driving on desert highway at golden sunset
Economic trends
Soft spot rates and cautious optimism frame FTR's latest freight outlook
From enforcement data to tariffs and demand signals, FTR outlines what's shaping freight markets ahead.
January 12, 2026
Red semi-truck driving on empty highway through dry grassland under blue sky
Economic trends
Tariffs and regulatory enforcement emerge as 2026's freight wildcards
Three years of flat rates are creating a tougher environment for carriers than capacity shortages.
January 8, 2026
Blue Freightliner semi-truck driving on highway with white trailer
Economic trends
Class 8 orders surge 108% but analysts question sustainability
December saw Class 8 orders jump to their strongest level in three years as regulatory uncertainty lifted.
January 6, 2026
White semi-trucks lined up in parking lot under clear blue sky
Economic trends
Could Trump's $2,000 tariff dividend boost freight?
Could $2,000 tariff dividend checks spark a 2021-style freight boom, or will inflation and debt dampen the impact?
January 2, 2026
US Capitol and shipping containers with 'Boom or Bust?' economic policy graphic
Previous Page
Page 6 of 85
Next Page
Top Stories
Two men in professional attire sitting inside a vehicle during daytime
Safety & Compliance
FMCSA boots 133 ELDs off registry in fraud crackdown
Federal regulators pulled 133 non-compliant electronic logging devices off the public registry and gave motor carriers 60 days to replace them.
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
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
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
Clearing The Air
The Importance of Advanced Air Dryer Technology for Today's Modern Trucks
DownloadView All