STATE OF FREIGHT TODAY

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Whether you prefer to read updates, listen to podcasts, or take in the most recent webinar, this page is the source for complimentary FTR content covering everything associated with the commercial freight industry.  

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Truckstop & FTR Spot Pressure Heat Map

Load Volumes & Spot Rates

Learn more about the TruckStop & FTR U.S. Spot Pressure Heatmap at this knowledgebase article:
https://help.ftrintel.com/knowledge/faq-spot-pressure-heatmaps

Spot Market Insights - July 07, 2025

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Dry van and refrigerated spot rates surge

Spot rates for van equipment typically rise during the week that includes Independence Day, but this year’s mid-year peak resulted in extraordinarily large increases for both dry van and refrigerated rates. During the week ended July 4 (week 26), broker-posted dry van spot rates in the Truckstop system recorded their second largest increase for any week since at least 2008. The increase in refrigerated spot rates was much larger than typical for the week. Flatbed spot rates ticked up slightly.

The cause of the unusually large increases for dry van and refrigerated rates is unclear. One possibility is the new roadside enforcement policy, effective June 25, of placing drivers out of service for inadequate English skills. Such a large impact so quickly seems unlikely but is plausible given the level of attention the issue has received. In any case, since the policy change coincided with weeks that usually see strong rate gains anyway, it would be premature to peg spot rate strength to the English language proficiency issue. If van spot rates were to continue rising or even just hold steady in the current week, we might begin to consider whether a fundamental change in the market has occurred. Large drops in van spot rates are common for this week, especially for refrigerated.

Trucking & Rail Updates from FTR

Updated weekly with downloadable slide decks

TMU _Avery_ Podcast Graphics - Updated 5.28.24

Updated weekly on Tuesday, FTR's Avery Vise provides timely updates on key trucking topics moving the market.

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Navigate the Shifting Economic Landscape with Confidence. Register for this impactful complimentary webinar.

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Updated biweekly on Fridays, FTR's Joseph Towers provides timely updates on rail topics moving the market.

Most Recent Orders & Indices

Class 8 Orders


New class 8 truck orders are normally a leading indicator of the state of the economy. Follow our preliminary order updates to understand the direction of the economy and commercial vehicle production.

Trailer Orders


Strong freight demand dictates the need for new trailers. Follow our preliminary trailer orders to monitor the underlying health of freight and track the demand for new equipment.

 

Trucking Conditions Index

This exclusive FTR metric combines millions of data points known to influence truck fleet behavior to provide one index measuring the industry's health.

 

Shippers Conditions Index

This exclusive FTR metric combines millions of transportation data points into one index to help shippers understand rate pressure across the industry.

State of Freight TODAY Articles

Independence Week Economic Check-In: Jobs, Tariffs, and Troubling Signals
Independence Week Economic Check-In: Jobs, Tariffs, and Troubling Signals
by FTR Analysts
Economic signals this week reveal job growth and political wins but stress from tariffs and looming stagflation. Stay strategic with our mid-year freight economy insights.
Forecasting Freight Demand: Three ways forecasting can help you survive in '25
Forecasting Freight Demand: Three ways forecasting can help you survive in '25
by Derek Young, VP of Sales & Marketing
Stay competitive in 2025 with freight demand forecasting. Learn how market intelligence can optimize budgeting, strategic planning, and risk mitigation for your logistics operations.
The Power of Benchmarking: How Market Intelligence Can Help Fleet Owners Negotiate Better Rates
The Power of Benchmarking: How Market Intelligence Can Help Fleet Owners Negotiate Better Rates
by Derek Young, VP of Sales & Marketing
Learn how benchmarking with market intelligence helps fleet owners negotiate better rates, optimize pricing strategies, and improve profitability in a volatile freight market.

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