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Shippers Urged to Boost Network Flexibility as Carrier Leverage Peaks

Shippers relying on single-carrier arrangements and rigid procurement strategies face mounting pressure as freight market conditions tighten significantly in mid-2026. The Truckload Rejection Index reached 17.64% on June 21, its highest level since March 2022, while the National Truckload Index hit an all-time peak of $3.78 per mile on June 28. Intermodal conversion has emerged as the clearest cost-relief opportunity, with the Intermodal Contract Savings Index standing at 31.78%—more than double year-ago levels. The divergence between truckload and intermodal contract pricing has created substantial savings potential for rail-eligible freight. Additional flexibility tactics include shifting underweight moves to LTL services and leveraging spot-to-contract spreads for targeted mini-bids. Geographic concentration risks intensified during the first half of the year as tariff frontloading compressed import volumes. Shippers dependent on single gateways faced capacity disruptions from both the surge and subsequent pullback.