#contract-rates
(11 articles)Truck Capacity Crisis Pushes Freight Costs Up 28% Despite Falling Volumes
The U.S. trucking market has entered a new phase of dysfunction: shippers are simultaneously experiencing shrinking freight volumes and sharply rising per-unit transportation costs. According to the U
Freight Rates Surge: Capacity Crunch Drives 18% Contract Rate Spike
Recent Q2 earnings reports from major trucking and rail carriers reveal that the North American freight market remains in a capacity-driven tightening cycle, with rates rising significantly despite mo
Trucking Capacity Shrinks as Rates Hit Record Highs
The U.S. trucking market is entering a critical supply-demand imbalance where capacity constraints are driving freight rates to near-record levels, with no relief expected in the near term. ACT Resear
Contract Trucking Rates Jump 50¢/Mile as Market Tightens
The trucking market is experiencing a significant structural shift, with contract rates potentially increasing by as much as 50 cents per mile—a jump of approximately 20% according to Sonar data cited
Freight Spot Rates Hit Record Highs Ahead of July 4th
The North American freight market is experiencing exceptional volatility as spot rates reach record highs in the weeks leading up to the July 4th holiday. This surge reflects a significant spike in fr
Ocean Freight Rates Spike Then Collapse: Carrier Tactics Spark Shipper Outrage
Ocean carriers have faced a significant reversal in their aggressive spot rate increase strategy over the past two weeks. Following the Strait of Hormuz disruption, carriers pushed rates upward aggres
SCOTUS Ruling on Broker Liability: What It Means for Trucking Rates
The Supreme Court's decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC fundamentally shifts liability exposure for freight brokers, marking a structural change in the trucking market. Previously shiel
RXO Earnings: Q1 Miss, Strong Q2 Outlook Signals Rate Recovery
RXO's first-quarter earnings reveal a bifurcated freight market where rising spot rates are pressuring contract-based logistics business models. Despite flat year-over-year revenue of $1.4 billion, th
May 2026 Freight Market: Rates Rising, Capacity Tightening Through Mid-Year
The May 2026 State of the Industry Report from FreightWaves and Ryder reveals a freight market characterized by persistent capacity constraints and rising costs across trucking, maritime, and intermod
Shippers Urged to Avoid Spot Rates as Liner Capacity Tightens
Industry advisors are cautioning ocean freight shippers against the temptation to book additional cargo on the spot market despite recent rate declines across most trade lanes. While east-west sailing
EU Road Freight Rates Diverge as Fuel Costs Drive Splits
European road freight markets are experiencing a significant divergence between contract and spot pricing, driven by elevated fuel costs and softer overall demand. According to the latest Ti/Upply/IRU