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Economic trends: Page 9

Economic trends
Freight volumes and manufacturing activity slow under tariff pressures
Rising costs and weakening activity signal a challenging outlook for the freight market.
August 20, 2025
Metal grinding machine producing bright orange sparks during precision manufacturing
Economic trends
Class 8 orders continue year-over-year spiral
Class 8 truck orders rebounded in July with a monthly gain, but economic uncertainty and trade tensions continue to drag down year-over-year performance.
August 6, 2025
Blue Freightliner semi-truck driving on highway with white trailer
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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
Transportation industry performance line graph tracking metrics from 2021 to June 2025
Economic trends
June trailer orders jump, though outlook remains cautious
U.S. trailer orders surged unexpectedly in June, signaling short-term momentum but raising questions about sustainability.
July 23, 2025
White semi-trailer trucks parked side by side on asphalt
Economic trends
Truckload slumps while LTL manages stability through pricing discipline
Trade policy uncertainty stalls truckload demand, while LTL carriers maintain pricing strength through disciplined revenue management.
July 21, 2025
Red and white semi-truck driving on desert highway at golden sunset
Economic trends
Tariff uncertainty and inflation keep pressure on freight and manufacturing sectors
Despite signs of improvement, freight and manufacturing sectors continue to face headwinds from trade policy uncertainty, rising costs and soft demand.
July 17, 2025
Automated car manufacturing assembly line with yellow robotic arms and vehicle chassis
Economic trends
Truckload market recovery slows amid freight volatility
Excess capacity, soft demand and shifting trade dynamics are keeping growth uneven, despite the truckload market showing signs of improvement.
July 17, 2025
Aerial view of multi-level highway intersection with red and blue vehicles
Economic trends
Trucking industry faces mixed signals as tariffs, soft freight, and surplus trucks cloud outlook
The freight market is showing signs of stability, but challenges continue to pressure rates and slow recovery.
July 11, 2025
Commercial trucks lined up on a highway with traffic signs and road markings
Economic trends
Class 8 truck orders hit 15-year low
Truck orders fell sharply in June, with analysts citing tariff hikes, economic uncertainty, and weakening freight demand.
July 4, 2025
Four semi-trucks in different colors parked side by side in a parking lot
Economic trends
Southeastern Freight Lines opens new expanded facility in Florida
The new Pensacola service center boasts a new bunk house, fuel bay, propane filling site and more. Also: Trucking activity slipped in May; ATRI updates idling, sustainability compendiums; more.
June 27, 2025
Southeastern Freight Lines Pensacola, Florida, facility
Business
Freight market holds steady as trade policies weakens demand
Freight demand remained sluggish as tariffs and shifting import patterns continued to pressure the trucking industry.
June 26, 2025
Aerial view of bustling maritime container port at twilight with orange and blue containers
Economic trends
Trailer net orders continue to fall, order cancellations surge in May
Despite modest year-over-year gains, May trailer orders fall sharply amid economic and policy headwinds.
June 23, 2025
White cargo trailers lined up on gravel with blue sky background
Economic trends
Insurance costs, truck orders, English proficiency rules, to impact trucking capacity
With soft freight volumes and declining truck orders, FTR warn that tighter capacity may emerge.
June 17, 2025
Commercial semi-trucks lined up in a transportation depot under clear blue sky
Business
Logistics industry urged to stay agile as trade war continues
Trade tensions, rising costs, and soft freight demand are shaking logistics. AI, sourcing shifts, and resilience strategies can help navigate ongoing disruption.
June 10, 2025
Silver semi-truck parked among colorful shipping containers under bright blue sky
Economic trends
Class 8 net orders jump but lingering fleet caution remains
Class 8 truck orders saw a modest rebound in May, but persistent economic and regulatory uncertainty continues to weigh on the market.
June 5, 2025
Three colorful semi-trucks parked in wet truck lot under gray sky
Business
Freight and manufacturing struggle under policy whiplash
Freight volumes are slipping and manufacturing activity is stalling as trade policy uncertainty continues.
June 4, 2025
Robotic automotive assembly line with yellow industrial robots manufacturing vehicle chassis
Business operations
Altitude by Geotab rolls out tariff trend tracker
The tracker offers insights on tariff impacts on freight by monitoring ports and border crossings and comparing freight movement to historical data.
May 29, 2025
US map with multicolored location markers across West Coast, Midwest, and Northeast regions
Business
What on-again, off-again tariffs are doing to freight
The freight market is in for short-term volatility after court blocks Trump tariffs and an appeals court temporarily reinstates them.
May 29, 2025
Shipping containers wrapped in tariff warning tape, representing global trade tensions
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Top Stories
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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
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