Breaking

Freight volumes turn positive as truckload rates surge in August

Shipment volumes across the trucking sector inflected upward in August after 42 months of consecutive decline. This marks a significant inflection point for the industry. Truckload linehaul rates climbed 11 percent year over year during the month, with dry van spot rates averaging $2.17 per mile excluding fuel. LTL carriers showed mixed performance, with Saia and XPO both recording volume increases while competitors posted declines. Industry executives attributed sustained rate strength to tightening carrier capacity, as regulatory enforcement against noncompliant drivers continues to shrink the available fleet. Large carriers are positioned to capture further rate increases even as demand remains modest, according to carrier commentary this week. The positive shipment trend ends the longest freight downturn on record for the sector.