What data sources power the Q2 2026 Shipper Rate Report?

The report leverages SONAR, Trimble's proprietary supply chain visibility platform, which aggregates transportation market data including rates, capacity, and demand signals. This enables FreightWaves analysts to move beyond anecdotal trends and ground forecasts in real transaction-level intelligence.

Who should use this report to inform their supply chain strategy?

Procurement teams, logistics managers, and shippers planning for Q2 2026 operations. The report is particularly valuable for organizations negotiating annual carrier contracts or making decisions about transportation mode, timing, and consolidation strategies.

How does the FreightWaves shipper survey contribute to the analysis?

The survey captures qualitative sentiment, concerns, and strategic priorities from shippers themselves. Combined with quantitative SONAR data, this provides both hard market metrics and contextual insight into how operational challenges are shaping shipper behavior.

What time horizon should shippers use this report for?

The report is designed for Q2 2026 planning and decision-making. Shippers should use the key takeaways to inform transportation procurement, capacity planning, and carrier relationship management for the second quarter and potentially the full year if strategic themes remain stable.

Is this report available to all shippers or only enterprise clients?

The report is offered as a complimentary download via FreightWaves, making it accessible to any shipper or supply chain professional who registers to receive it. This democratizes market intelligence that was historically available only to large enterprise customers.

Demand Planning

Moderate

Q2 2026 Shipper Rate Report: Market Trends & Rate Outlook

Jun 2, 2026

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The signal

FreightWaves and Trimble have released their quarterly Shipper Rate Report for Q2 2026, leveraging proprietary SONAR datasets to provide shippers with actionable rate and demand intelligence. The report synthesizes market expert analysis with quantitative data to identify key themes, competitive pressures, and strategic opportunities for the upcoming quarter. For supply chain professionals, this represents a critical planning tool as organizations finalize procurement strategies and transportation budgets.

The report addresses three core areas: emerging market themes for Q2 2026, insights from a comprehensive FreightWaves shipper survey, and strategic takeaways for annual planning. By grounding analysis in SONAR's proprietary analytics platform, the report offers shippers evidence-based forecasts rather than speculative commentary. This is particularly valuable in volatile freight markets where rate visibility directly impacts P&L outcomes.

Shippers should view this report as a foundational input to their Q2 demand planning and carrier negotiation strategies. Organizations that align their procurement timelines with market cycle predictions—derived from real transaction data—typically achieve better carrier relationships, more favorable rate agreements, and improved supply chain resilience.

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