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# Trucking Freight
- URL: https://steel-veritas.ghost.io/trucking-freight/
- Published: 2026-09-08T12:10:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-08T12:11:00.000Z
- Author: David Adams

Good morning,

Along with the Market Outlook, is the latest Morgan Stanley Data for week of 24 August through 30 August 2026:

**MARKET OUTLOOK:** Last week the question was whether the summer cooldown was a pause or a turn — and the early answer is a pause. Loads posted rose 12% while trucks posted fell 5%, capacity tightened hard in all three modes, and September opened with spot up across the board, van back over $3.00\. Fuel finally took a breather, easing to $5.60 after seven straight weeks of gains, though it still runs 49% above last year and 22% above the July low, so the cost pressure on carriers hasn't gone anywhere. Year-over-year is still strong — flatbed up 42%, van up 42%, reefer up 40%. Load-to-truck runs 76–93% above last year across the modes. Tightening capacity against firming demand is how the next leg up starts — if this holds into peak season, expect rates to push higher from here.

**VAN MARKET:** Van made the biggest move of the summer — load-to-truck ratio jumped 23% on the week and spot opened September back above $3.00 at $3.02 after averaging $2.89 in August. Contract sits at $3.18, a $0.16 premium over spot. Up 42% year-over-year.

**FLATBED MARKET:** Capacity snapped back — load-to-truck jumped 17% on the week, a second straight increase, and September opened at $3.57 after August closed at $3.54\. Contract pushed to $4.02, stretching its premium over spot to $0.45, the widest yet. Still up 42% on the year.

**REEFER MARKET:** Reefer tightened another 11%, a second straight double-digit move, and September opened sharply higher at $3.57 against August's $3.38 — spot has now closed the gap to contract entirely. Up 40% on the year.

Thanks very much, we hope you find the above information useful in your transportation planning. 

Brian Kostef

Managing Director

[Market\_Conditions\_9\_4\_26Market\_Conditions\_9\_4\_26.pdf3 MBdownload-circle](https://steel-veritas.ghost.io/content/files/2026/09/Market%5FConditions%5F9%5F4%5F26.pdf "Download")

| **A Veteran Owned Business** | Mercury Transportation Solutions LLC Houston, Texas Mobile / WhatsApp: 724.272.5173 [bkostef@mercurytx.com](mailto:bkostef@mercurytx.com) l [www.mercuryresources.com](http://www.mercuryresources.com/?ref=steel-veritas.ghost.io) |
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