Month: November 2025

If the current freight climate continues, a number of freight brokerages—many of them large—will likely fail over the next year. The current market presents a toxic combination of sluggish freight volumes and firming spot rates, which is the worst possible environment for freight brokers. Understanding the Market Dynamics Freight brokerages act as intermediaries between shippers… Continue reading The Perfect Storm: Why freight brokerages face a wave of failures in 2026

Chart of the Week:  Van Contract Rates, National Truckload Index (linehaul cost less fuel over $1.20/gal) – USA SONAR: VCRPM1.USA, NTIL12.USA Long-term (contract) rates for dry van truckload transportation (VCRPM1) have remained essentially flat over the past year, increasing roughly 1% since July 2024. Short-term spot rates  (NTIL12) which are naturally more volatile, have risen about 4%… Continue reading How stable are contract rates?

Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring demand; Blockades paralyze access to Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo; and Woojer taps Texas Logistic & Fulfillment for distribution operations. Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring… Continue reading Borderlands Mexico: Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring demand

What’s a Lumper Anyway? For folks outside the industry, here’s the short version: A lumper is a third-party laborer (not the driver, not the shipper, not the broker) who’s hired to unload freight at warehouses, often large grocery or foodservice distribution centers. Drivers pull in, get told to pay a lumper (sometimes $200–$300+), and then… Continue reading Why Are Drivers Still Paying To Unload Freight They Don’t Own?

Big jury payouts — sometimes topping $100 million — are becoming more common across the trucking industry. These “nuclear verdicts” are driving up insurance costs, putting companies at risk, and threatening the stability of fleets large and small. Now more than ever, fleet leaders need to understand where the risks are and take proactive steps… Continue reading Avoiding Nuclear Verdicts: How Fleets Can Protect Themselves in an Era of Rising Risk