
Freight & Transportation Forecast
Strategic freight forecasts and analysis
Freight Rates 2023-2025
Get a On-Demand DemoOur freight rate forecasts build on our transportation industry expertise, leadership in Class 8 tractor reporting, and award-winning economic analysis. We provide an innovative and comprehensive view of supply and demand in trucking markets. This monthly report gives industry professionals across the supply chain visibility into the future of freight transportation economics to help with planning and budgeting. The report also serves as a guide for negotiating freight rates.
What allows ACT Research to be so accurate in forecasting freight rates?
We understand the capacity of the freight market better than anyone. Since 1986, ACT Research has been working directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as they discretely share their Class 8 tractor data and information. This gives ACT Research an unprecedented understanding of the commercial vehicle market. Couple this data with our growing used truck database, award-winning economist, and years of industry experience, and you get a best-in-class outlook for the transportation market.
Key Items Covered Monthly in the Freight Forecast:
- ACT Class 8 Tractor Sales Forecasts
- Cass Shipments Index Forecasts
- Cass Truckload Linehaul Index® Forecasts
- DAT Dry Van Spot Rate Forecasts
- DAT Dry Van Contract Rate Forecasts
- DAT Refrigerated Spot Rate Forecasts
- DAT Refrigerated Contract Rate Forecasts
- DAT Flatbed Spot Rate Forecasts
- DAT Flatbed Contract Rate Forecasts
- LTL Tonnage and Yield Forecasts
- Intermodal Load and Rate Forecasts
- US Economic Forecasts
The ACT freight forecast provides quarterly forecasts for the direction of volumes and contract rates through 2022 and annual forecasts through 2023 for the truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal segments of the transportation industry. The report provides forecasts for the next 12 months for the truckload spot market. The ACT Research freight forecast provides an unprecedented look at the future of freight rates to confidently help businesses in transportation and logistics management plan for the future.
With this report, you will receive freight rate and volume forecasts for truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal, with an in-depth market analysis of capacity and demand for each segment as well as an analysis of related markets, including last mile and port activity. We have also included a carrier profitability analysis and, most importantly, a guide to negotiating freight rates.
ACT’s freight forecast is undoubtedly the deepest monthly report on transportation in the industry.

Dave Broering
President, Non-Asset Solutions, NFI
What can our forecast data do for you?
Shippers
Market intelligence to:
- Control costs and improve customer service
- Rate budgeting and planning
- Plan capacity, volume, and inventory
- Limit distributions and risk mitigation
- Understand conditions of the for-hire trucking industry
Investors
Market intelligence to:
- Understand the economic outlook of the transportation sector, including publicly traded carriers
- View the current and future health of the market for your investments
- Know the direction of freight volumes and rates
- Understand the truckload cycle
Logistics/Brokers
Market intelligence to:
- Benefit shipper customers on rate negotiations and understanding of truckload cycle
- Forecast spot and contract rates
- Negotiate spot and contract rates
- Mitigate risk
- Budget and benchmark capital
- Add credibility with 3rd party validation
- Benchmark assumptions
Truckers/ Fleets
Market intelligence to:
- Forecast spot and contract rates
- Negotiate spot and contract rates
- Allocate dedicated equipment
- Manage risk
- Budget and benchmark capital
- Benchmark assumptions


Assuring rail equipment capacity for our intermodal stakeholders is imperative at TTX Company. Meeting this goal requires accurate freight demand forecasting which, in turn, necessitates an understanding of market conditions and issues. ACT Research’s monthly Freight Forecast complements our internal research and analysis by providing keen insight on demand drivers, as well as emerging and evolving trends. The report’s content is well-written, and the information provided is organized and easy to access and interpret.

Frank Adcock
AVP Marketing, TTX Company

More Than Just A Report
In addition to the report, subscribers also have access to:
- Previous Two Months' Report PDFs
- Forecast Tables in Excel
- Presentation Ready Graph Pack w/ 75+ Graphs
Presenting to your boss?
One of the most beneficial yet underrated added benefits to a subscription is the Graph Pack. Updated monthly, we pre-build 100 presentation-ready graphs for your benefit. With our decades of experience, we’ve pre-built the various scenarios needed for executive-level presentations.
