Freight Market Intelligence
Freight markets change lane by lane, commodity by commodity, and season by season. This section tracks the signals that matter: shipment volumes, spot and contract rates, tender rejection activity, truckload capacity, fuel, imports, manufacturing, inventory, and modal shifts.
Our coverage connects market data to practical decisions for shippers, carriers, and freight brokers. Expect concise explanations of what changed, why it matters, and what decision-makers should watch next.
Coverage Areas
Truckload volumes and capacity
Spot and contract pricing
Dry van, refrigerated, and specialized freight
Imports, ports, manufacturing, and retail demand
Fuel and carrier operating economics
Regional and commodity-level freight trends
Latest Freight Market Analysis
Current reporting on demand, rates, capacity, fuel, imports and the operating signals shaping shipper and carrier decisions.
-
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.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…