Every month, the major less-than-truckload carriers report a handful of numbers — tonnage, shipment counts, revenue per shipment — that most shippers never think twice about. But if you're moving freight regularly, these numbers are worth a closer look. They tell you where capacity is tightening, where carriers are gaining pricing power, and where you might have leverage (or might be about to lose it). August's reports from Saia, XPO, and Old Dominion give us a pretty good sn

If you haven't looked closely at your peak season shipping costs yet, now's the time. Amazon Shipping just announced its 2026 holiday surcharges, and they're higher than last year's — which means this could be the most expensive peak season parcel shippers have ever seen. At Gain Consulting, we spend our days helping businesses like yours get ahead of exactly this kind of cost creep. So let's break down what's changing, why it matters, and what you can do about it before the

TruckSmarter is closing up shop. The company confirmed that its AI-powered driver app, Dispatch, will shut down this Friday. More than 500,000 carriers have used the platform, which combined a free load board with an AI chat interface that allowed drivers to find, bid on, and book freight without navigating traditional load boards. For a company that raised $16 million just last September to accelerate growth and product innovation, the abrupt exit stands out. TruckSmarter ha

The August Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI) came in at 66.6, down 2.2 points from July’s 68.9 and further below June’s recent four-year high of 71.1. Logistics activity is still expanding, but the pace of growth is slowing. The slowdown is driven primarily by softer inventory levels, while costs across the board continue to climb at a rapid rate. For shippers and logistics managers, the message is clear: the underlying pressure on transportation, warehousing, and inventory cos

UPS has released its 2026 peak season surcharges, joining FedEx and the U.S. Postal Service in implementing higher fees than last year. These charges begin as early as September 27 and remain in effect through January 16, 2027, with the highest rates applying between November 22 and December 26—the period of peak holiday ordering. Key surcharges include: Additional Handling: $8.75 to $11.90 per package (effective September 27) Large Package Surcharge: $96.25 to $117.50 Over M

The U.S. Postal Service will implement a temporary 6% average rate increase on several package shipping services during the 2026 peak season, according to a recent agency filing. The seasonal adjustment is scheduled to take effect on October 4, 2026, and remain in place through January 17, 2027. It will apply to both retail and commercial rates for USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Parcel Select. Key Details USPS stated that the temporary increa

Late Friday night, trade negotiations between the United States and Canada broke down, raising the risk of a broader trade conflict between two of the world’s most closely linked economies. The two countries exchange nearly $900 billion in goods annually. When talks failed, the U.S. moved forward with 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods — about 5% of Canada’s exports to the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded by announcing dollar-for-

Cross-border freight between the United States, Canada, and Mexico jumped sharply in June, signaling continued strength in North American trade flows. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, total transborder freight reached $157.1 billion in June 2026 — a 19.9% increase compared to June 2025. The growth was broad-based across both borders and most modes of transportation. Key Highlights U.S.–Mexico freight: $89.2 billion, up 22.2% year-over

Double brokering has long been an open secret in trucking. Recent court decisions suggest that era of tolerance may be ending. Two new cases—one from a Nevada federal district court and one from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals—show judges increasingly willing to hold brokers and carriers accountable when loads are improperly passed along. The rulings raise the stakes around “reasonable care,” vicarious liability, and the risks of doing business with parties known to double

After years of waiting for a clearer recovery signal in the freight market, July’s Cass Freight Index data suggests the long-anticipated turn may finally be taking shape—though volumes remain soft and the path forward is still uneven. Key July 2026 Highlights Index Level YoY Change 2-Year Stacked MoM Change MoM (SA*) Cass Freight Index – Shipments 0.983 -4.8% -11.4% -2.6% -2.2% Cass Freight Index – Expenditures 3.518 +9.1% +9.6% -3.4% -2.1% Cass Truckload Linehaul Index 152.9

After several years of uneven freight demand, the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector is operating from a position of renewed strength in 2026. Improving industrial activity, resilient consumer spending, and disciplined capacity management have restored pricing power and given carriers greater confidence. Industry analysts report that LTL carriers continue to secure mid- to high-single-digit contract renewals. Revenue per shipment has been supported by general rate increases and

Airfreight rates declined in July even as jet fuel prices climbed sharply following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The latest Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) from TAC shows average rates fell 8.8% compared with June levels. Despite the monthly drop, rates remained 16.8% higher year-over-year as of late July, supported by residual effects from earlier Middle East tensions, elevated fuel costs, and continued demand linked to data center construction. However, t

The Logistics Manager’s Index (LMI®) registered 68.9 in July, a moderate slowdown from June’s 71.1 (the fastest expansion rate since March 2022). While expansion eased, the reading remains well above the all-time average of 61.7 and higher than any monthly figure recorded between 2023 and 2025. Logistics activity is still growing robustly, but the nature of that growth is shifting. Key Drivers of the July Reading Cost pressures continue to dominate: Inventory Costs rose to 77

TFI International is positioning for growth in the U.S. less-than-truckload (LTL) market while working to correct recent pricing missteps—moves that could reshape capacity and rates for shippers in the months ahead. During its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, CEO Alain Bédard confirmed the Montreal-based carrier is exploring the acquisition of a U.S. nonunion LTL carrier valued at approximately C$200 million (about $142 million). The company currently operates a very small

Stricter federal enforcement of cabotage rules is reshaping cross-border trucking along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the latest Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data, the number of active Mexican-domiciled trucking companies operating in southern border commercial zones has declined 4.3%, falling from 5,467 in late December 2025 to 5,232 as of mid-May 2026. This represents a continued downward trend from 5,633 carriers at the end of 2024. The reduct

U.S. shippers are feeling the squeeze. According to the latest TD Cowen Index, Q2 2026 brought record-high ground parcel rates driven by hefty fuel surcharges from FedEx and UPS, reduced discounts, and broader market pressures. For many businesses, delivery costs are climbing faster than expected — and the pain may not ease quickly. Record-High Parcel Costs in Q2 The ground parcel rate per package hit 42.4% above its January 2018 baseline in Q2 — a 6.9% increase year-over-yea

The Port of Los Angeles continues to demonstrate remarkable strength amid global uncertainty. In June 2026, the nation’s busiest container gateway achieved a historic milestone: processing more than 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) — marking the best June in the port’s 118-year history and the third-best month ever recorded. This was the third time the port has crossed the million-TEU threshold, a feat no other port in the Western Hemisphere has accomplished even

Amazon has officially announced its 2026 holiday fulfillment fees and is urging sellers to ship early to avoid capacity constraints and higher costs during the peak season. The peak season fee period will start on October 15, 2026, and will include the company’s ongoing 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge applied on top of the seasonal rates. What Sellers Need to Know Holiday fulfillment fees are a standard part of Amazon’s strategy to manage the massive surge in volume during

Amazon is intensifying its competition in the U.S. parcel delivery market, leveraging aggressive pricing and simplified fee structures to attract customers from FedEx, UPS, and even the U.S. Postal Service. Since opening Amazon Shipping to all businesses earlier this year, the company has been winning market share through competitive rates and reduced surcharges, according to parcel pricing experts. Competitive Pricing Driving Market Shift Amazon Shipping is actively courting

Retailers and importers are accelerating shipments in a clear bid to get ahead of potential new tariffs, driving import volumes to record levels this summer. According to the latest Global Port Tracker Report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates, U.S. container ports are on track for an all-time high in July as businesses frontload inventory ahead of expected trade policy shifts. Sharp Rise in Import Activity Import volumes have risen sharply, with