Freight Index Shows Early Recovery Signs As Intermodal Prices Diverge in Q1 2025

Freight Index Shows Early Recovery Signs As Intermodal Prices Diverge in Q1 2025

The TD Cowen-AFS Freight Index report reveals a diverging trend across various transportation modes in the US freight market, amidst weak demand and excess capacity. Truckload transportation shows cautious optimism, while the parcel sector witnesses intense pricing strategy competition. LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) transportation faces challenges in maintaining pricing discipline. The report provides crucial decision-making insights for industry participants, highlighting the nuances in pricing and demand dynamics across different freight segments. It offers a valuable overview of the current market conditions and potential future trends.

12/31/2025 Logistics Industry Insights
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TD Cowen Index Highlights Peak Season Freight Challenges

TD Cowen Index Highlights Peak Season Freight Challenges

The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index indicates a challenging off-peak season and complex freight landscape. LTL pricing is rising due to Yellow's closure, while parcel discounts are increasing. The truckload market remains relatively stable. This index provides valuable insights for logistics decision-makers, highlighting the dynamic shifts in pricing and capacity across different transportation modes. It offers a comprehensive overview of the current freight environment, helping businesses navigate the complexities and optimize their supply chain strategies. The index serves as a crucial benchmark for understanding logistics performance.

01/15/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Truckload Market Struggles Amid Overcapacity Weak Demand

Truckload Market Struggles Amid Overcapacity Weak Demand

DAT reports a weak overall US freight market in October, with declining freight volumes and only a slight, unsustainable increase in spot rates. Weak demand and overcapacity are the primary drivers. The market is expected to remain volatile through 2025. Freight companies need to optimize operations, diversify services, and proactively address these challenges.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Truckload Spot Market Struggles Amid Economic Pressures

Truckload Spot Market Struggles Amid Economic Pressures

DAT analysts interpret truckload spot market data, pointing to rate corrections, increased shipper leverage, and challenges for small carriers. The flatbed market remains strong, while refrigerated freight faces pressure, and dry van rates still have room to decline. The analysis highlights a shift in market dynamics. The report suggests monitoring the potential market rebound and capacity growth in the near future, as these factors will significantly influence freight rates and carrier profitability. This analysis provides valuable insights for stakeholders navigating the evolving freight landscape.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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LTL Freight Grows As Truckload Sector Struggles

LTL Freight Grows As Truckload Sector Struggles

The freight market is experiencing weak demand, leading to divergent performance between LTL and TL carriers. LTL freight demonstrates greater resilience due to its business characteristics and industry barriers. Truckload transportation faces more significant challenges and requires proactive transformation and diversification to adapt to market changes. The market is becoming increasingly differentiated, highlighting the need for strategic adjustments by companies in both segments to navigate the current economic climate and maintain competitiveness.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Trucking Sector Improves As LTL Faces Challenges TD Cowen Report

Trucking Sector Improves As LTL Faces Challenges TD Cowen Report

The TD Cowen-AFS Freight Index Q1 report indicates emerging optimism in the truckload market, with rising spot rates and increasing tender rejections. Parcel pricing strategies are proving effective, benefiting from fuel surcharge adjustments. LTL rates remain stable, but pricing discipline may be weakening. Overall, the macroeconomic outlook presents positive signals for carriers, but weak demand and excess capacity remain challenges. While the truckload sector shows signs of recovery, continued monitoring of pricing discipline in LTL and demand trends across all modes is crucial for assessing the sustained health of the freight market.

01/20/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Freight Pricing Strategies Split As Demand Weakens in Q1

Freight Pricing Strategies Split As Demand Weakens in Q1

The TD Cowen-AFS Freight Index Q1 report reveals a market grappling with weak demand and excess capacity. Full Truckload (FTL) seeks price equilibrium, while Parcel struggles between pricing strategies and discount competition. Less-than-Truckload (LTL) faces cracks beneath seemingly firm prices. The report offers crucial market insights for freight companies, shippers, and investors, highlighting the challenges and opportunities within each transportation mode and the pricing pressures impacting the overall freight landscape. It serves as a valuable resource for navigating the complexities of the current freight market.

01/15/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Freight Market Splits As Parcel LTL and Truckload Prices Diverge

Freight Market Splits As Parcel LTL and Truckload Prices Diverge

The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index reveals a diverging US freight market. Parcel demand is weak with unprecedented discounts and declining fuel surcharges. LTL shipments show declining weight per shipment, but carrier pricing remains firm. Truckload faces headwinds from soft demand and excess capacity, hindering near-term improvement. While future Fed rate cuts are beneficial for long-term truckload and LTL prospects, their immediate impact is limited. The report highlights the contrasting dynamics within different segments of the US freight sector, reflecting broader economic conditions and supply chain adjustments.

01/15/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Trucking Market Faces Winter Challenges As Freight Index Fluctuates

US Trucking Market Faces Winter Challenges As Freight Index Fluctuates

The Cass Freight Index indicates sluggish shipment volume growth and decelerating expenditure growth in November, suggesting challenges for the freight market. Year-over-year shipment volume declined, with a sharp decrease in West Coast imports, potentially influenced by shifts in global trade patterns. Expenditure growth was primarily driven by changes in the transportation mode mix, indicating persistent cost pressures. Investors can use the index to assess freight companies, but a comprehensive analysis incorporating other data is crucial. The index points towards a softening freight market, requiring careful monitoring of evolving economic conditions.

01/21/2026 Logistics
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Freight Market Braces for Weak Peak Season TD Cowen Index

Freight Market Braces for Weak Peak Season TD Cowen Index

The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index indicates a mixed performance in the third quarter freight market. LTL rates increased due to Yellow's bankruptcy, while parcel shipping saw deeper discounts. Truckload remained relatively stable. A muted peak season is expected in the fourth quarter with slower growth across all segments. Logistics companies need to refine operations, improve service quality, and embrace digitalization to navigate these challenges. The index highlights the need for strategic adaptation in a dynamic market environment.

01/15/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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