The trucking industry faces challenges as the Trump administration’s tariffs and economic conditions affect freight rates. Truckload rates are pressured by excess market capacity, with Q3 rates projected to be slightly above 2018 levels but showing a decline. This excess capacity, stemming from the pandemic and subsequent economic uncertainty, persists despite some carrier exits. Conversely, less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are focusing on profitability rather than volume, leading to slight cost declines but overall positive performance in pricing due to disciplined strategies.

Source: https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/truckload-ltl-freight-index-q2-2025-td-cowen-afs/754068/