State of Transportation: Monthly Freight Market Update

Updated on November 5, 2026

This State of the Industry report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the transportation logistics industry, shedding light on its key drivers, trends, and emerging technologies. By examining the current landscape and forecasting future developments, we seek to equip decision-makers, industry professionals, and stakeholders with valuable insights to navigate the ever-evolving logistics landscape.

With the world becoming increasingly interconnected, the transportation logistics industry faces both immense opportunities and unprecedented challenges. Globalization, e-commerce, and advancements in technology have sparked a seismic shift in consumer expectations, supply chain strategies, and sustainability concerns.

Highlights for the general freight report include:

• Truckload capacity remains tight despite softer demand, with tender rejections holding near 14% and spot rates remaining elevated, indicating continued pressure on available capacity.
• Fuel remains a major cost pressure, with elevated diesel prices weighing particularly heavily on smaller fleets and contributing to higher transportation costs.
• Import activity remains strong, with the Port of Los Angeles posting a record September and loaded container imports increasing 19% year over year.
• Intermodal continues to see strong growth, with domestic container volumes up close to 10% in mid-October and average contract savings versus truckload remaining above 30%.
• Manufacturing remains a positive freight driver, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI at 54.5% in September, marking the ninth consecutive month of expansion.
• Inflation continues to pressure supply chains, with producer prices up 6.3% year over year and truck transportation freight prices up 19.3%.
• Consumer spending remains resilient, but risks are building, as higher energy and interest costs could make the upcoming holiday season more price-sensitive.

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