en.Wedoany.com Reported - U.S. trucking spot market rates continue to climb. As enforcement activities intensify, fleets are once again facing a driver shortage. Industry insiders believe the current recovery remains supply-driven, primarily due to a reduction in available trucks and drivers rather than a substantial rebound in freight demand.
The ACT For-Hire Trucking Index for April, released by ACT Research, shows further tightening of market supply-demand balance. The seasonally adjusted Volume Index rose 6 points month-over-month to 66.9, a new cycle high. The index has remained above 60 in four of the past five months, a level not seen since late 2021. Meanwhile, the Driver Availability Index declined at an accelerated pace, and the Capacity Index continued its downward trend.
Carter Vieth, Research Analyst at ACT Research, noted that the Capacity Index rebounded from 48.1 in March to 50.2 in April, breaking above the neutral level of 50 for the first time in over a year and marking only the third increase in the past three years. This suggests that rising rates are beginning to encourage some fleets to add capacity, but persistent driver shortages and tight equipment budgets remain significant obstacles. Vieth mentioned that truck orders have increased recently due to the upcoming EPA27 emissions regulations, starting to support equipment purchases, though most pre-buying activity is likely concentrated in the second half of 2026.
Despite a stronger freight environment, ACT Research warns that the overall economic outlook remains uneven. Vieth stated that even after a court ruling on May 7 deemed the recent 10% Section 122 tariffs illegal, shippers may still delay inventory replenishment due to tariff uncertainty. Additionally, the potential impact of the Iran war on inflation and interest rates has dampened demand prospects, though lower tariffs have partially offset the negative effects. Due to new FMCSA regulations accelerating driver exits, capacity continues to contract even amid pre-buy demand growth ahead of EPA27.
ACT's Supply-Demand Balance Index climbed from 60.5 in March to 66.9 in April, reflecting stronger freight volumes even as capacity has shifted from contraction to moderate expansion.
According to data from Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence, spot market conditions continued to tighten in the week ending May 29, but at a slower pace compared to the volatility during International Roadcheck week. Three of the four key market indicators declined week-over-week: load availability fell 15.1%, truck availability dropped 11.5%, and the Market Demand Index (MDI) consequently retreated 8.4 points to 200.7. Despite the lower readings, market conditions remain far stronger than a year ago, with the MDI up 150.1% year-over-year.
Spot rates continued to rise during the week, climbing 2.2% to $3.65 per mile, a staggering 48.7% increase year-over-year, highlighting the sharp tightening of available capacity this spring. Total broker-posted spot rates hit another all-time high, and flatbed spot rates also reached new highs. Dry van spot rates are now just 3 cents shy of the all-time high set in the final week of 2021. Flatbed freight demand remains robust, with spot rates posting their largest weekly gain in eight weeks. Rates have now risen for 22 consecutive weeks and in 26 of the past 27 weeks, reflecting sustained demand from construction, manufacturing, and industrial freight markets.
Reefer freight has cooled after surging in recent weeks. Reefer spot rates edged down slightly more than 10 cents per mile after skyrocketing nearly 74 cents over the previous four weeks—the largest four-week gain on record. Much of that increase was tied to a surge of over 52 cents during International Roadcheck week, when enforcement activities temporarily sidelined additional capacity.
The national average diesel price fell 8 cents to $5.51 per gallon from $5.59 the previous week, providing some relief from high fleet operating costs.
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