{
  "id": 1782658,
  "title": "Is Trucking Headed for a Multi-Year Recovery?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/is-trucking-headed-for-a-multi-year-recovery",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T19:01:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/is-trucking-headed-for-a-multi-year-recovery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Trucking is undergoing a substantial structural shift since deregulation, with 20-25% of for-hire truckload capacity exiting the market, according to RXO's Chief Strategy Officer Jared Weisfeld. This supply-driven correction, fueled by government enforcement and rising operating costs, points to a multi-year recovery, rather than a short-lived cyclical rebound. Weisfeld estimates that up to 25% of the truckload supply base may leave the market, a figure he describes as significant. Spot rates are running 30-50% higher year-over-year, despite muted freight demand. Operating costs, including insurance, tires, and maintenance, have increased by approximately 26%, making a rapid capacity re-entry economically challenging. The cost-to-operate gap is widening as all-in rates approach the first-half 2022 peak. RXO's spot volume surged by 1,500 basis points year-over-year in Q2, reaching about 42% of the mix, and climbed to about 50% in July as shippers turned to large, vetted brokers amid routing guide failures. Large shippers are consolidating freight with fewer, larger brokers to mitigate federal enforcement risks and carrier compliance concerns. The top 10 brokers now represent about half the brokerage market and could control over half in the long term. RXO, which acquired Coyote, is now the third-largest broker transportation provider in North America and maintains a network of over 120,000 carriers. Although it is premature to predict peak season strength, Weisfeld anticipates the market to tighten through the end of September, advising shippers to secure capacity partnerships now to avoid potential freight rate volatility.",
  "summary": "The freight market is undergoing its most significant structural shift since deregulation, with 20-25% of for-hire truckload capacity exiting. RXO’s Jared Weisfeld explains why this supply-driven correction, fueled by ongoing government enforcement and rising operating costs, points to a multi-year recovery ahead. Learn why prior cycle analysis might no longer apply and what shippers should […]…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}