The seminar is scheduled for Aug. 19-20 at The Commons in downtown Columbus, Indiana.

ACT Research has become one of the more recognized forecasting and analytics firms tied to the North American trucking industry since launching in 1986. The company is widely followed by fleets, truck manufacturers, suppliers, and businesses connected to commercial transportation markets.

Freight, Truck Orders, And Market Forecasts Expected to Lead Discussions

According to ACT Research, analysts during the seminar will present outlooks covering multiple areas of the trucking industry between 2026 and 2029.

Topics expected to be discussed include:

freight market conditions
Class 8 truck demand
trailer markets
medium-duty vehicle trends
used truck pricing
emerging transportation technology

With fleets continuing to watch operating costs, freight demand, and equipment pricing closely, long-term forecasting events remain a major focus across several areas of the trucking industry heading into 2026.

Industry Executives Scheduled to Speak During Event

The seminar will also feature several high-profile transportation industry executives.

Scheduled keynote speakers include:

Rusty Rush, CEO of Rush Enterprises
Alison Trueblood, vice president and general manager at Cummins
Derek Leathers, CEO of Werner Enterprises

ACT said the event regularly attracts transportation decision makers from across the commercial vehicle sector, including fleet operations, manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers, and financial organizations connected to trucking.

Seminar Marks Major Milestone for ACT Research

Along with serving as the company’s 75th Market Vitals Seminar, the event also marks ACT Research’s 40th anniversary.

The company said networking opportunities throughout the seminar are designed to encourage discussion between transportation leaders and businesses navigating changes in freight markets, commercial vehicle demand, and broader economic conditions affecting trucking.

As fleets continue evaluating freight activity and equipment planning for the years ahead, events focused on forecasting and market analysis continue drawing significant attention throughout the transportation industry.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Source: The Trucker

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Bob Costello, Chief Economist and Senior VP of International Trade and Security Policy at the American Trucking Associations (ATA), delivered his 2025 Economic Industry Review. He outlined how these proposed tariffs would affect the trucking sector, from increased equipment costs to significant changes in freight patterns.

Tariffs and Their Ripple Effect

One of the proposed tariffs’ most surprising impacts is how they may alter freight patterns. Costello touched on the potential fees suggested by the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which include up to $1 million per port call for Chinese vessel operators and $1.5 million for shipping companies using Chinese-built vessels.

Costello explained, “It absolutely could change freight patterns. I think it’s a really big deal.” Such high charges could discourage shipping lines from making multiple port calls, potentially consolidating their stops. “What they’re probably going to do is dump all of the cargo in one port and move on,” Costello noted.

This shift impacts not only imports but also export activities along the East Coast. Smaller ports that play a vital role in local industries may suffer. For instance, factories in Alabama rely on the Port of Mobile for exports. “There’s a good chance a lot of these ocean carriers are not even going to make that call and not go to Mobile anymore,” he added.

Consumer Behavior Drives Freight Patterns

Costello predicted a gradual return to standard freight patterns in 2025, following consumer-driven spending habits that delayed economic recovery. He warned, however, that implementing additional tariffs could trigger another economic downturn.

The proposed tariffs include an additional 10% on goods from China, 25% on steel and aluminum, and 25% on Canadian and Mexican imports. The latter is particularly concerning for the trucking sector as it directly affects the costs of tractors and trailers.

“If it in fact goes through … for any substantial amount of time, I think that brings in a real risk of macro recession, no doubt about it,” Costello stated. He emphasized that tariffs function as taxes, and price increases on goods will ultimately lead to consumers purchasing fewer items, dragging down freight volumes.

This follows the trend during the pandemic-fueled freight recession, where spending on goods skyrocketed due to limited entertainment and travel options. “We all remember; it was not fun. So, what did people start doing during that period? They just started buying stuff,” Costello recalled. Terms like “revenge travel” became popular as consumers shifted their focus from goods to experiences, attending concerts, or taking multiple vacations.

Now, with consumer spending normalizing and the economy showing signs of stabilization, the trucking industry faces an adjustment period.

Market Stabilization and Economic Outlook

Despite some turbulence, positive trends are on the horizon for the freight sector. Costello projects a 3.3% increase in goods spending and a 2.2% rise in spending on experiences this year. Notably, inflation for goods is currently lower than for services, encouraging higher spending on physical products.

Additionally, factory output, which declined by 0.4% in 2023 and 2024, is expected to rebound with a growth of 1.3% in 2025 and 2.5% in 2026. Although some subsectors may see slower recovery, overall manufacturing activity is anticipated to drive freight demand upwards.

The housing market also shows promise. Costello forecasted consistent growth in existing home sales, prompting an uptick in expenditures for home improvements. Meanwhile, new housing starts, estimated at one million, are likely to generate substantial freight opportunities.

“It wasn’t like the boom of the pandemic, but it’s certainly much better, and I think that is absolutely going to help,” Costello concluded.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

Image Source: Angel Coker Jones

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The data for December identifies market conditions as stabilizing, with demand remaining flat, capacity finding equilibrium, rates trending upward, and operational costs steadying. For the second month in a row, the Foundation has maintained a neutral outlook for the near-term future but remains optimistic about a market rebound.

“As the number of owner-operators continues to increase, we believe the market will turn upward in early Q2 2025,” the Foundation stated.

Van Market Insights

The van market experienced mixed results in December, with half of all regions reporting declines in the market demand index. Spot rates saw little to no movement month-over-month but were anticipated to rise toward the end of the year. According to the Foundation, the divergence between spot rates and the three-year moving average highlights the current stage of the dry van market cycle.

Other noteworthy observations include:

• The inventory-to-sales ratio stayed unchanged.

• Household appliances continued their strong performance since late 2023.

• Retail sales, adjusted for seasonality, showed growth in electronics, appliances, and furniture sectors while declining for general merchandise.

Flatbed Market Outlook

Flatbed carriers operating in the Southeast and Mountain Central regions performed better in terms of freight ratios. However, spot rates for flatbeds experienced their 28th consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Key flatbed market updates:

• After a brief uptick in August, the seasonally adjusted flatbed composite index dipped again in September.

• Federal interest rate cuts are expected to take months to impact the market indirectly, as they don’t directly influence mortgage rates.

• Inventory levels for building materials, garden equipment, and supplies remain a challenge, sitting 4% above 2019 levels. High inventory continues to hinder freight demand.

Reefer Market Trends

The reefer market faced an unusual decline in demand for December, a trend not typically seen during the end-of-year period. Despite this, spot rates posted gains and bounced back considerably from April 2023 lows.

Additional insights for the reefer market include:

• The Mexico-Texas region recorded the most substantial month-to-month increase in carrier pay-per-mile, according to the USDA.

• Eight regions reported significant dips in reefer volumes.

• Truck capacity saw tightening, contradicting lower volumes and rates. This anomaly suggests volume data may adjust positively next month.

Broader Trucking Market Analysis

The trucking market is simultaneously facing pressures and opportunities as various economic factors take shape.

• Private fleets are moderating demand within the for-hire market, but slowing private fleet growth and pre-tariff shipping could boost for-hire activity in the first half of 2025, according to the Cass Shipment Index.

• Class 8 truck sales—both new and used—declined slightly; however, used truck sales exceeded new sales for the 11th month in a row.

“Given that typical seasonality called for a decrease of 18% month-over-month, the small dip [in used sales] was a big win,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research.

• Transportation prices rose for the second-highest reading in two years, as indicated by the Logistics Managers’ Index, signaling that the freight market is nearing equilibrium.

Other economic factors shaping the trucking market include:

• Diesel prices have dropped $2.23 since their peak in June 2022, now showcasing much-needed relief for carriers.

• Slight increases in wages and salaries have been offset by a rising Consumer Price Index.

• Despite weak demand, supply chains remain adequately equipped, with shorter lead times reported. However, sporadic product shortages have emerged.

“A general construction slowdown in the fourth quarter has created a surplus of finished goods,” the OOIDA Foundation shared. “We are closely monitoring demand in Q1 to assess whether permanent workforce reductions may be necessary.”

For the full monthly and quarterly freight market updates, visit the OOIDA Foundation website.

Source: Land Line

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