rates News Updates

“The biggest headwind right now is finding qualified drivers,” said Priscilla Peters, vice president of marketing at Conversion Interactive Agency.

Tom McLeod said the industry is riding a rate rebound driven by the winnowing of excess hauling capacity that had contributed to a four-year rate recession.

Competition for truck drivers has rebounded as freight conditions improve, driving up hiring costs, sign-on bonuses and pay increases at several fleets.

The ATA For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.1% from the prior month to 113.1. But the latest result also marked a decline of 0.1% from last year.

The Tenney Group 2026 Mid-Year M&A Report found that capacity reductions have started to drive industry consolidation alongside other key factors.

Program Aired: July 9, 2 p.m. ET PCS Software CEO Mark Hill and Transport Topics’ Seth Clevenger for a timely discussion on the difference between rate recovery and profit recovery. They will examine what is changing in the freight market, why some carriers are falling behind despite stronger demand and what fleets can do now to make more disciplined, profitable freight decisions.

It's clear the market has turned and the longest freight downturn in industry memory is at an ending, but unrelenting uncertainty is here to stay, researchers say.

Werner is seeing more benefits from the upcycle after bolstering its dedicated truckload operations with an acquisition at the start of 2026, executives added.

Spot and contract rates edged higher during the quarter, while many carriers sharpened their focus on internal efficiency and operational improvements.

Diesel prices are climbing, ocean vessels are rerouting and U.S. trucking rates are responding as war in Iran ripples through energy and freight markets.