Freight Markets
Volumes, rates, capacity, fuel, imports, commodities, and modal market intelligence.
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November 2026 Freight Outlook—Where Shippers Can Reprice and Where Waiting Raises Risk
A manufacturer waiting for a cheaper ocean booking can erase the saving if a late component forces an air shipment. That is the practical November freight problem: some prices are…
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The 2027 Freight Bid Is Splitting. Which Lanes Should Shippers Lock In?
A shipper buying freight for both plant supply and retail replenishment has two decisions to make in its 2027 bid. How much capacity should it commit to on lanes where…
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UPS’s 2027 Rate Reset Starts Before Christmas—Why Shippers Need More Than a 5.9% Budget Increase
UPS’s rate reset begins before Christmas. FIR explains how shippers can test weight, zones, fuel, fees and workflow changes before finalizing budgets.
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Rail Revenue Is Rising Faster Than Freight Volume—What Shippers Should Challenge Before Signing 2027 Rates
Today’s Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern results separate revenue growth from shipment growth. What shippers should demand on price, service and capacity before signing 2027 rail contracts.
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Freight Inflation Is Splitting by Mode—Why Shippers Need to Recheck Their Transportation Budgets
U.S. freight inflation is not moving in one direction at one speed. New federal data show that truck and water transportation producer prices increased 19.3% over the past year, while…
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The 2027 Freight Plan Starts Now: Protect Service, Challenge Cost and Preserve Options
A year-end planning guide for supply-chain and transportation leaders: defend the budget, secure the deliveries that matter and build a network that can adapt through 2027. By Eric Bratton, Founder…
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Freight Consolidation: What Could Shippers Gain—and Give Up?
The proposed C.H. Robinson–RXO combination raises a practical question: what can scale improve, and what might fewer independent options cost? FIR weighs both sides and outlines how shippers, brokers and…
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Q4 Freight Demand Is Splitting by Industry—Higher Shipment Dollars Don’t Guarantee More Loads
Updated industry shipment totals reveal an uneven freight picture. FIR separates dollar growth from physical production and identifies the signals that should guide Q4 capacity commitments.
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The G7’s 100-Million-Barrel Fuel Release Starts a 20-Day Delivery Test for Freight
The G7’s 100-million-barrel program includes a substantial diesel release in the first 20 days. Freight savings remain conditional on delivered product, regional availability and the benchmark written into the contract.