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As the year comes to a close, freight executives and industry leaders share their 2025 freight market predictions.
Rapido Solutions Group, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, connects U.S. logistics companies with top supply chain talent.
Tim Higham remains confident after accurately predicting a “bad freight market” in 2024. For 2025, he forecasts a “mediocre freight market.”
"While freight rates might go up 15% in 2025, that’s totally useless to most people if costs also go up 15% (and, that’s exactly what I expect)."
Higham believes confidence and expectations will play key roles, fueled by economic policies to boost manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
Higham foresees 2025 as a year of preparation, with real momentum coming in 2026:
"Freight businesses (of all kinds) will perk up in 2025, and everyone will ready themselves for the REAL fun to come in 2026 through 2029."
Steve Cox reflects on a tough 2024 but sees signs of recovery in 2025:
"Recent tender rejections going up slightly and small increases in spot rates could signal incremental recovery."
He emphasizes that companies focused on efficiencies and profitability during the downturn will emerge stronger:
"We certainly see clearer skies overall in 2025."
Will Jenkins sees 2025 as a year of gradual recovery for the freight market:
"I think the freight market in 2025 will see a modest recovery after experiencing the worst downturn in history."
He points to increasing tender rejections as a positive sign for demand and rates:
"Tender rejections have increased, which is a trend that is expected to continue, indicating a slight uptick in demand and better rates for carriers."
Jenkins also anticipates a return to typical seasonal patterns with clear peak periods, though he tempers expectations:
"The market will likely remain relatively subdued as it works its way back to normalcy."
According to Matt O’Mara, automation and technology will dominate the future:
"Automation and technology are going to win… in terms of gaining market share and sustaining profit."
O’Mara predicts a flat revenue outlook for drayage, driven by increased efficiencies through automation. He also anticipates a resurgence in industry consolidation led by private equity.
At Whimsy, their focus remains on empowering their team while adopting lean and cross-functional practices.
"We need to be very good to our team… and put them in systems that do not set them up for failure."
Samantha Jones ties the next wave of freight growth to lower interest rates:
"Declining interest rates [could be] the promised spark for business expansion."
Jones predicts growth will accelerate in late 2025 but warns it might be gradual:
"Growth might be backloaded into the latter half of 2025. Even then, the recovery may take longer than expected."
She adds:
"The 2025 peak could set the tone for a strong year of growth in 2026."
Read more of Samantha's thoughts and insights here.
Levity helps 3PLs and freight brokers save time by automating repetitive email tasks.
Last month, I sat down with Clayton Griffin to talk about the freight market. He sees the industry stuck at the bottom but moving slowly toward recovery:
"We are at the bottom, but we haven't seen any reliable indicators that tell us we are headed out of the bathtub."
Griffin points to short-term boosts, like tariff-driven demand, but says real recovery will only happen when supply and demand balance:
"When you reach supply equilibrium, a demand event should have an impact. Right now, we’re not seeing that in our customer base, outside of some typical seasonality."
Catch our 8-minute discussion on the freight market here.
Arrive Logistics predicts a stable start to 2025, with typical seasonality and tight supply keeping the market steady.
Author: rwalterarrivelogistics.com
"A sustained market shift remains unlikely until mid-2025."
Key factors to watch include economic policy changes, tariffs, and potential port strikes. While they acknowledge the possibility of a market flip, Arrive concludes:
"We are not yet ready to call for widespread disruption in the near term."
Craig Fuller sees the current market swinging in favor of carriers, with rising spot rates and less competition.
Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves
He points to potential policy-driven boosts in 2025:
"If certain policies create an economic boost, we could see a big surge in freight demand."
Fuller also notes that new regulations could tighten capacity further:
"That could sideline a lot of drivers, making your skills even more valuable."
FMCSA cracks down on MC numbers. A $158M trucking Ponzi. Middle East surcharges.
The domino effects are just starting to hit. Plus: FedEx dethroned UPS, Mexico truck production plunges, another $26M AI supply chain raise, and more.
Flatbed rejections hit a record 48.7%, broker numbers stop falling, and diesel jumps 30 cents overnight.
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