--- title: Building a Freight Strategy Amidst Shifting Markets and Mixed Signals description: Freight market trends point to rising shipments and costs, but uneven capacity and pricing. See what Shippers and 3PLs should evaluate next. image: https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hubfs/Blogs/Blog%20Post%209.29.26%20(1).png --- [![Banyan Technology Logo](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hubfs/BANYAN_Horizontal%20-%20white%20no%20background.png "Banyan Technology Logo")](https://www.banyantechnology.com/) - Solutions - [OTR Modes](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/over-the-road-shipping-solutions/) - [LIVE Connect®](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/shipping-software/) - [TMS](https://banyantechnology.com/enterprise-tms-transportation-management-system/) - [API](https://banyantechnology.com/api-carrier-connectivity/) - [System Features](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/over-the-road-shipping-tools/) - [Contract & Audit Services](https://info.banyantechnology.com/carrier-contract-and-audit-services) - [Integrations](https://banyantechnology.com/supply-chain-integrations/) - [Carrier Connections](https://banyantechnology.com/carrier-connections/) - [Become a Partner](https://banyantechnology.com/about/become-a-partner/) - Resources - [Blog](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/) - [Case Studies](https://banyantechnology.com/resources/case-studies/) - [Podcasts & Webinars](https://banyantechnology.com/resources/webinars-podcasts/) - [White Papers](https://banyantechnology.com/resources/white-paper/) - [Savings Calculator](https://banyantechnology.com/calculator/) - [All Resources \>](https://www.banyantechnology.com/resources) - About Us - [The Banyan Advantage](https://banyantechnology.com/advantage/) - [Leadership](https://banyantechnology.com/about/leadership/) - [Careers](https://banyantechnology.com/about/careers/) - [Banyan News](https://banyantechnology.com/press-releases/) - [Shippers](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/logistics-solutions-for-shippers/) - [3PLs](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/third-party-logistics-solutions/) - [Marketplace](https://banyantechnology.com/marketplace/) - Contact Us - [Contact](https://banyantechnology.com/contact-us/) - [Request Demo](https://banyantechnology.com/request-demo/) [freight management](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/topic/freight-management) [freight market](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/topic/freight-market) # [Building a Freight Strategy Amidst Shifting Markets and Mixed Signals](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/building-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals) By [Banyan Technology](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/author/banyan-technology)   |  September 29, 2026 [READ NOW](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/building-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals) #### Share this blog [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://7528304.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on email](https://7528311.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528311/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/email-color.png?width=24&name=email-color.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fblog.banyantechnology.com%2Fbuilding-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) [![](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Banyan%20Sq%20Logo%202048X2048.png?width=60&name=Banyan%20Sq%20Logo%202048X2048.png)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/author/banyan-technology) [Banyan Technology](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/author/banyan-technology)  Tags: [freight management](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/topic/freight-management) [freight market](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/topic/freight-market) Building a Freight Strategy Amidst Shifting Markets and Mixed Signals 9:11 ## **What to Do When Freight Market Trends Send Mixed Signals** Freight shipments posted their first year-over-year gain in more than three years this August. Freight spending and Truckload linehaul rates also rose sharply from a year earlier. Yet Truckload spot rates fell from July to August. Those numbers may sound contradictory, but they describe different parts of the freight market. Together, they suggest conditions are changing without pointing to a clear, uniform recovery. For Shippers and 3PLs, the value of this data lies in using it to ask better questions about their own freight. Are costs rising on the lanes they use most? Are contracted Carriers accepting the same share of loads? Would a different sourcing or mode decision improve the outcome for a particular shipment? ## **What the Latest Freight Market Trends Show** The shipments component of the [Cass Freight Index](https://www.cassinfo.com/freight-audit-payment/cass-transportation-indexes/august-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) rose 2.1% year over year in August 2026. It was the index’s first annual gain since January 2023, ending a 42-month stretch of declines. Cass also reported an 18.7% increase in freight expenditures and an 11.3% increase in its Truckload Linehaul Index from a year earlier. The shipment increase is a welcome change, but one month does not establish a sustained recovery. Cass noted that August’s seasonally adjusted gain essentially reversed declines from June and July. Its shipments index remained 7.4% below its level two years earlier. Meanwhile, [DAT reported](https://www.dat.com/company/news-events/news-releases/dat-spot-van-rate-falls-20-cents-in-steepest-august-pullback-on-record?utm_source=chatgpt.com) that dry van spot linehaul rates fell 8.4% from July to August, the steepest decline for that period in its 16-year rate history. Reefer and flatbed spot rates declined as well. Even after those decreases, spot linehaul rates across all three equipment types remained more than 30% above August 2025 levels. The annual comparison shows how much pricing has changed since last year. The monthly comparison shows that spot rates cooled after July. Both matter, but neither should stand alone as the basis for a shipping strategy. ## **Why Shipments, Spending and Spot Rates Can Move Differently** The Cass and DAT figures measure different things. Cass’s shipments index tracks the number of for-hire freight shipments in its dataset across domestic transportation modes. Its expenditures index measures the total amount spent moving that freight. DAT’s spot rate figures reflect Truckload rates paid in the spot market. That means an increase in Cass shipments does not require DAT spot rates to rise in the same month. More freight may move overall while demand for a particular type of Truckload capacity eases. And total freight spending can grow because of changes in shipment volume, transportation rates, fuel charges or the mix of freight being moved. Consider a [Shipper](https://banyantechnology.com/logistics-solutions-for-shippers/) whose August shipment count increased because it opened a new distribution location. Its total spend would likely rise even if rates on its existing lanes stayed steady. At the same time, the team might find lower spot quotes than it saw in July for some dry van loads. None of those observations would cancel out the others. Time frames also change the interpretation. A spot rate that fell from July to August can still be much higher than it was in August of the previous year. For a team planning next month’s loads, the recent decline may be useful. For a team negotiating an annual contract, the higher year-over-year level may deserve more attention. This is why the latest freight market trends are best treated as context. They can show a team where to investigate, but its own shipment data is needed to determine what has changed in its network. ## **Capacity Adds Another Variable to the Pricing Equation** Freight demand influences rates, but so does the supply of available trucks. A load may cost more to cover when fewer suitable Carriers are available for its lane, equipment needs or pickup window, even if national shipment volumes are not rising quickly. DAT observed that dynamic earlier this summer. Dry van and reefer contract linehaul rates posted record June-to-July increases while DAT’s Truckload Volume Index declined across dry van, reefer and flatbed. DAT pointed to available capacity as an important influence on pricing. In August, spot rates then pulled back from their July levels. For a transportation team, the effect may appear first in execution rather than in a market report. A preferred Carrier might reject more tenders on a lane. A broker may need additional time to cover a load. Another Carrier might offer a workable rate but require a different pickup time. Those details matter because the lowest quoted rate is not always the lowest-cost outcome. If a tender fails and the team must source capacity at the last minute, the final cost and service risk may be greater than the original rate suggested. The right response depends on the lane. One may need an additional contracted Carrier. Another may need a review of pickup flexibility. A third may have ample coverage and require no change at all. ## **Put the Market Data to Work One Lane at a Time** A focused review is more useful than making a network-wide change based on a national average. Start with high-spend lanes and loads that frequently need extra attention. Compare the rates originally expected with what the shipments ultimately cost, then look at service performance. For example, suppose a Shipper’s primary Carrier has a competitive contracted rate on a regular lane. Over the past month, however, more loads have required a second tender. The team has paid higher rates to recover some of them and spent more time securing capacity. Looking at the contract rate alone, the lane still appears healthy. Looking at the full execution record, the team can see a coverage problem. That finding gives the team several concrete options. It could discuss acceptance and available capacity with the primary Carrier, add a qualified backup to the routing guide or compare spot options for loads with less predictable timing. The goal is to address the specific issue before it becomes a routine last-minute expense. A different lane might tell the opposite story. Contracted rates and service could be stable while spot quotes have become more competitive for occasional loads. In that case, the team can evaluate those opportunities without changing a contract that continues to perform well. The same review should account for the full shipment cost. Accessorial charges and service exceptions can change the result after a rate is selected. Looking at the original quote alongside the final freight bill helps identify whether the issue is the base rate, how the load was executed or something in the shipment requirements. ## **Look Across Shipments, Not Only at Individual Rates** Changing market conditions can also be a prompt to revisit how freight moves. A team may spend time comparing rates for individual LTL shipments while overlooking an opportunity to move compatible shipments together. Consider several LTL shipments leaving the same origin within a workable time window. Depending on their destinations and service requirements, they may be candidates for a single-stop or multi-stop Truckload move. The team can compare the combined route with the cost and service of moving each shipment separately before booking. Consolidation will not be the right choice for every group of shipments. Delivery commitments, handling needs and the resulting route still have to work. But evaluating the option within the freight execution workflow gives teams a broader decision than choosing the lowest LTL rate for each load in isolation. That broader view is useful when rates are changing. It allows Shippers and [3PLs](https://banyantechnology.com/third-party-logistics-solutions/) to consider [Carrier selection](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/carrier-connections/), mode and shipment grouping together, using the requirements of the freight in front of them. ## **How Banyan Technology Helps Teams Respond** Banyan Technology connects Carrier access, freight execution and transportation intelligence through [LIVE Connect®](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/freight-management-platform/). That helps Shippers and 3PLs evaluate options in the context of their own shipments rather than relying on a single market indicator. Banyan’s [Enhanced Truckload capabilities](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/over-the-road-shipping-tools/?acc=multi-mode-shipping&item=truckload) support public spot-market access, [direct Carrier API connections](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/api-carrier-connectivity/), rate intelligence and contracted rate management. [Load Consolidation](https://banyantechnology.com/solutions/over-the-road-shipping-tools/?acc=ai-suite&item=ltl-to-tl-consolidation) helps teams identify eligible LTL shipments that could move more efficiently as a Truckload. Benchmarking Services provide additional context for evaluating rates, performance and transportation spend. The August data is a reason to review your freight strategy, not a reason to assume every lane needs a new one. By connecting market context with actual rates, Carrier performance and shipment activity, teams can see where a change would make a difference and where their current approach is working. Discover how Banyan helps you compare freight options and act on changing market conditions.  [![\\Explore Banyan's Solutions\\](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8211830/interactive-223149065016.png)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI8Tx4ZXWAhCiwJJ2LC1kdCJp8ohg5YeuDgZspqmeIZj6PfF8TBzIoWPr0rzPtZN1F7fHmRdF9G4BUywn5OpM0%2FrL3NrySdVAHdNEcXJtcWFsRLnubmPNP%2FfET6Ktc174a%2FqSFiLg02py796rmxhwBEYmpMszWLzCwycQ1JXJPN0rpuj8dZRUJ4A7Wv5RR8t1kd5nk0n%2F29ESlcyDMIR%2BpJ9yDB2fI8QSNDH5osPujl8mHe2iYTJnzucQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=223149065016&portalId=8211830) ### Subscribe to Our Blog Thanks for submission!! - Recent - Popular ### Posts by Topic - [shipping (36)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/shipping) - [Supply Chain (31)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/supply-chain) - [LTL (30)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/ltl) - [logistics management (30)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/logistics-management) - [OTR shipping (28)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/otr-shipping) - [Freight-Pricing APIs (18)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/freight-pricing-apis) - [3PL (17)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/3pl) - [Freight Digitization (17)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/freight-digitization) - [freight management (16)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/freight-management) - [freight technology solution (16)](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/tag/freight-technology-solution) [![Download Banyan's Getting Ahead of Climate Regulations White Paper](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8211830/7f6bf50a-f53e-4a99-a35a-54bc24c27662.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8211830/7f6bf50a-f53e-4a99-a35a-54bc24c27662) [![Check Out Banyan's Tire Tracks Podcast On-Demand](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8211830/1d8d3228-7218-4276-9cfc-515fba86a467.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8211830/1d8d3228-7218-4276-9cfc-515fba86a467) #### Let us know what you thought about this blog. Put your comment Below. [Previous Post](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/when-diesel-approaches-record-highs-load-consolidation-deserves-a-second-look) ##### [When Diesel Approaches Record Highs, Load Consolidation Deserves a Second Look](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/when-diesel-approaches-record-highs-load-consolidation-deserves-a-second-look) [![BANYAN\_Horizontal-1-1](https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hubfs/Logos/BANYAN_Horizontal-1-1.png "BANYAN_Horizontal-1-1")](https://www.banyantechnology.com/) © 2026 All Rights Reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Banyan Technology", "url" : "https://blog.banyantechnology.com/author/banyan-technology" }, "dateModified" : "2026-09-29T17:54:52.720Z", "datePublished" : "2026-09-29T17:54:52.000Z", "headline" : "Building a Freight Strategy Amidst Shifting Markets and Mixed Signals", "image" : [ "https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hubfs/Blogs/Blog%20Post%209.29.26%20(1).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.banyantechnology.com/building-a-freight-strategy-amidst-shifting-markets-and-mixed-signals", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.banyantechnology.com/hubfs/BANYAN_Horizontal-1.png" }, "name" : "Banyan Technology, Inc." } } ```