Canada Freight Rates

Truckload Rates in Canada

July 2026 Update

July 31, 2026

As of July 2026, Canadian freight rates remain firmer than earlier in the cycle, supported by improving freight activity, tightening equipment capacity, and stronger U.S. truckload conditions. Demand is still uneven, but LoadLink’s Freight Index increased 28% year over year in May, with domestic Canadian freight activity up 47%. Canada’s Class 8 tractor fleet also remains smaller than a year ago.

ACT’s July Freight Forecast shows Canada’s truckload market continuing to improve, although it has not experienced the same acute capacity pressure as the United States. Cross-border pricing is receiving support from tighter capacity, but rate performance varies considerably by direction and remains sensitive to trade conditions.

Spot Rates

Aggregate intra-Canada spot rates, excluding fuel, declined one cent sequentially in June to $1.90 per mile but remained 8.3% higher year over year. Rates moved lower in early July, reinforcing that Canada’s rate cycle remains less volatile and less pronounced than the U.S. market.

Intra-Canada dry van spot rates were unchanged sequentially in June at $1.64 per mile, excluding fuel. On a seasonally adjusted basis, rates increased four cents and were 12% higher year over year. ACT expects year-over-year gains to accelerate against easier comparisons.

Reefer rates remain stronger than dry van despite some recent moderation. Intra-Canada reefer spot rates declined six cents in June to $2.09 per mile but increased on a seasonally adjusted basis and remained 4% above year-ago levels. During the second quarter, reefer rates carried a 27% premium to dry van, well above the long-term average.

Flatbed also remains well supported. Intra-Canada flatbed spot rates increased five cents in June and were 6% higher year over year. Rates carried a 44% premium to dry van, reflecting support from specialized capacity constraints and commodity- and energy-related freight.

Contract Rates

Canada’s contract environment is becoming firmer as spot rates improve and equipment capacity tightens, although the pricing reset remains more measured than in the United States. Canadian carriers have not experienced the same degree of driver scarcity, limiting the pace of near-term rate increases.

For carriers, a firmer contract environment should support revenue quality, although labor, insurance, financing, equipment, and maintenance costs continue to pressure profitability. For shippers, procurement conditions may become less favorable as equipment capacity contracts and stronger U.S. rates influence transborder lanes.

Cross-Border / Demand Drivers

Canadian freight conditions remain closely connected to U.S. market strength, trade flows, and the industrial and commodity cycles. U.S.-Canada inbound truck border crossings increased 1.8% year over year in May against a tariff-affected comparison. The upcoming USMCA/CUSMA/T-MEC review and continuing trade-policy uncertainty remain important risks for investment and cross-border freight planning.

Northbound U.S.-to-Canada dry van spot rates increased nine cents in June and were 5% higher year over year. Southbound Canada-to-U.S. rates declined four cents sequentially but remained 26% above year-ago levels. The difference between directions points to uneven trade demand as well as greater cross-border volatility.

Capacity remains an important longer-term support. Canada’s Class 8 tractor fleet was approximately 3.2% smaller year over year in July and is expected to contract further during 2026. ACT expects tighter equipment availability to support larger Canadian truckload rate increases in 2027, although driver availability and trade conditions could keep Canada’s trajectory less pronounced than the U.S. market.

Summary

Entering July 2026, Canadian truckload rates remain on firmer footing than during much of 2025, but the improvement is uneven. Domestic freight activity is running above tariff-affected year-ago levels, equipment capacity is tightening, and most spot-rate measures remain higher year over year.

Canada has not experienced the same capacity pinch or rate acceleration as the United States. Shippers, carriers, brokers, fleets, and investors should continue monitoring domestic freight activity, cross-border volumes, trade-policy developments, equipment availability, driver supply, and whether tighter capacity produces broader Canadian rate gains through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.

To see how Canadian rates change in the future, and for detailed analysis and forecasts or truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal, see ACT's freight & transportation forecast.