Updated on February 6, 2026
This State of the Industry report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the transportation logistics industry, shedding light on its key drivers, trends, and emerging technologies. By examining the current landscape and forecasting future developments, we seek to equip decision-makers, industry professionals, and stakeholders with valuable insights to navigate the ever-evolving logistics landscape.
With the world becoming increasingly interconnected, the transportation logistics industry faces both immense opportunities and unprecedented challenges. Globalization, e-commerce, and advancements in technology have sparked a seismic shift in consumer expectations, supply chain strategies, and sustainability concerns.
Highlights for the general freight report include:
- Spot rates and tender rejection rates remain elevated despite tender volumes running well below year-ago levels, pointing to a meaningful contraction in carrier supply.
- Rejection rates and spot rates have only modestly eased from mid-January peaks, suggesting capacity continues to exit the market even as seasonal demand fades.
- Tender volumes reverted to a baseline roughly 6–7% lower year over year after the holidays, confirming that recent tightening is not supported by a broad demand recovery.
- Reefer rejection rates approached 20% around Christmas, with cold weather and protect-from-freeze demand driving sharper-than-normal seasonal tightening.
- Aggregated spot rates briefly moved above contract rates around Christmas, marking the tightest relationship since early 2022 and underscoring how quickly market conditions can shift.
- Domestic and international intermodal volumes have started 2026 well, supported by strong service, excess container availability, and a 20–30% rate advantage versus truckload in key lanes.
- Weak imports, tariff uncertainty, vessel redeployments, and geopolitical risks are supporting near-term container ship rates but add volatility risks through 2026 despite structurally ample capacity.
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