Frigid winter weather pinched spot capacity during one of the seasonally strongest periods of the year for demand, sending spot rates up in recent weeks, as discussed in the latest release of the Freight Forecast: Rate and Volume OUTLOOK report.

“After three winter storms in the first half of December, TL spot rates are 10% above year-ago levels in late-December, rising about 8% in seasonally adjusted terms over the past month.” said Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst. “The combination of severe weather and solid holiday freight demand tells us the surge is temporary. Weather will warm and consumption will fall again after the holidays.

“However, these past few weeks have done more to swing the pendulum of pricing from shippers back toward fleets than anything we’ve seen in a few years. As the capacity contraction accelerates, this swing will continue in 2026.

“On the other hand, news from the EPA via the ATA in November informed the industry that EPA’27 low-NOx regulations will partially go into effect in 2027. Official word from the EPA is still a few months away, but this provides new motivation to prebuy in 2026.

“A large prebuy isn’t likely, since fleets are still managing down excess capacity from overbuying in 2023-2024, and investment dollars are scarce amid generationally low for-hire truckload profit margins. But Class 8 orders tend to move with spot rates, regardless of the sustainability of the trend, and this dynamic provides a degree of moderation for the 2026 rate outlook,” Denoyer concluded.

The monthly 61-page ACT Freight Forecast report provides analysis and forecasts for a broad range of U.S. freight measures, including the Cass Freight Index, Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, and DAT spot and contract rates by trailer type for the U.S. and Canada. The service provides monthly, quarterly, and annual predictions for the TL, LTL, and intermodal markets over a two- to three-year time horizon, including capacity, volumes, and rates. The Freight Forecast provides unmatched detail on the freight rate outlook, helping companies across the supply chain plan with greater visibility and less uncertainty.