The April 2026 “State of the Industry Report”

The April 2026 “State of the Industry Report” — presented in affiliation with Ryder — shares an in-depth overview across the trucking, maritime and intermodal markets, as well as what to expect in the coming weeks. The data contained within the report provides breakdowns of capacity, volumes and rates.

In this report, you will find: 

• Diesel prices surged over $1/gallon in early March due to geopolitical conflict, increasing transportation costs and squeezing carrier margins—especially in contract freight.
• Elevated tender rejections (~14%) and rising spot rates indicate ongoing capacity constraints, with carriers favoring higher-paying spot loads.
• Freight demand is modestly higher year-over-year but not signaling a strong market breakout; underlying demand may be overstated due to high rejection rates.
• The Midwest remains significantly tighter than the West Coast, though West Coast capacity began tightening later in March.
• Domestic intermodal volumes are up (~3% YoY) due to strong service, lower costs vs. truckload, and available capacity, while international volumes are slightly down.
• Container demand remains soft, with declining import volumes and excess vessel capacity; geopolitical disruptions and tariff uncertainty are adding volatility.
• Manufacturing is showing early expansion, but rising fuel costs, softening labor conditions, and uneven consumer spending are creating broader economic uncertainty.

Download the complimentary report today to access the full insights.