Flatbed carriers are seeing some of the tightest market conditions since the pandemic-era freight surge. Trucking employment numbers are also turning upward after a long period of decline, suggesting fleets are regaining confidence as rates improve and freight activity stabilizes.
At the same time, the automotive sector is wrestling with higher fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict. Large-scale restructuring is also reshaping distribution networks. Republic National Distributing Company’s decision to shutter facilities and cut thousands of jobs reflects the growing pressure to consolidate freight operations and reduce overlapping infrastructure.
Then there is Amazon. What started as an internal delivery machine is rapidly becoming a direct challenger to established intermodal providers, rail partners, and third-party logistics firms.
Continue reading to find out the latest developments across the freight world.
Fresh data from the American Trucking Associations points to a stronger freight environment, with the seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index climbing 0.3% in March after a sharp 2.9% jump in February. More telling was the yearly comparison. March tonnage rose 3% from the same period last year, the strongest annual gain since October 2022.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello described the first quarter as the strongest opening stretch the industry has seen in nearly 10 years when both monthly and yearly performance are measured together. The index reached 117.0 in March, up from 116.6 in February, adding more weight to the argument that the freight recession may be in the rearview.
Flatbed markets are showing the clearest signs of tightening. National flatbed spot rates climbed to $2.69 per mile in Week 18, just 5 cents below the record highs seen during the 2022 freight boom. Rates have now increased for seven straight weeks, adding 38 cents per mile during that run. Compared to last year, flatbed rates are up 27%.
The U.S. trucking labor market posted its strongest hiring month in years during April, adding 4,300 truck transportation jobs and offering another signal that freight conditions are improving. The gain pushed total trucking employment to 1,496,600 jobs, marking the largest monthly increase since September 2023.
Warehouse employment showed a calmer picture. April warehouse payrolls rose by 500 jobs to 1.83 million, though the sector remains far below last year’s levels. Rail employment moved the other way, falling by 600 jobs in April and dropping 6,400 jobs year over year.
The U.S. auto market began 2026 facing pressure from high borrowing costs and steel tariffs. But the war in the Middle East is creating further complications that could dent vehicle demand and disrupt auto supply chains for the rest of the year.
Cost pressure is already there — the cheapest 2026 vehicle is more than $20,500. And analysts said prices for both vehicles and parts are expected to rise further if geopolitical tensions continue. Trade flows are changing already. Containerized U.S. exports of autos and auto parts increased 15.3% in 2025 while imports declined 9.4%.
China’s share of U.S. auto and parts imports has also dropped sharply, from more than 40% in 2021 to 35.2% last year, as sourcing shifts toward South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India. But industry executives say replacing suppliers is a slow process, taking up to two years.
One of the biggest shake-ups in U.S. beverage distribution this year is unfolding as Republic National Distributing Company prepares to shut down facilities and lay off thousands of employees following the sale of major assets to Reyes Beverage Group. According to WARN filings reviewed by FreightWaves, the restructuring could result in the loss of as many as 4,677 jobs nationwide.
The deal includes at least seven markets: Texas, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland. Texas is hit hardest, with 1,903 jobs on the line statewide. Florida could lose more than 1,000 jobs across four facilities, while Virginia’s Ashland distribution center is set to close, cutting 428 jobs.
Amazon is expanding deeper into freight transportation with the launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services, opening its logistics network to outside businesses in sectors ranging from automotive to healthcare and retail.
The company says businesses can now tap into Amazon’s freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and parcel delivery network. Analysts believe the move may increase domestic intermodal demand, particularly for railroads. BNSF Railway is expected to benefit first because Amazon already relies heavily on BNSF’s transcontinental network.
We understand that tariffs and trade wars have created an unstable environment. However, we can promise you a few things amid this turbulent period. When you call, we answer. No matter the hour. We respond when you have urgent shipping needs. No matter the challenge.
When you work with VCPB, you can always count on:
VCPB Transportation
600 Meadowlands Pkwy Secaucus, NJ 07094
(201) 770-0111
%20(1).jpg)
