Transfix Take Podcast | Week of August 12 - Freight Rates Falling. What Happens After Labor Day?

The freight market is loosening as summer winds down, but the question is how long that relief will last. This week on the Transfix Take Podcast, Jenni Ruiz and NFI Industries market expert Justin Maze break down falling tender rejections, easing linehaul rates, and the regional shifts shaping the market ahead of Labor Day. While much of the country is seeing softer conditions, pockets of tightening in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest show why location and lane direction still matter. In this episode: * Tender rejections fall to just above 12% after reaching 18% in mid-July * National linehaul rates drop roughly 2% week over week to $2.24 per mile * Why rates could fall another 3–3.5% before Labor Day * Continued softening across the Southeast and South as produce season fades * Why the Northeast remains tighter, particularly on freight heading south * Wildfires and late-summer produce putting pressure on Pacific Northwest capacity * What declining spot freight volumes could mean for routing guides and upcoming RFP season * Why carrier capacity reductions and tighter safety standards could have a much bigger impact on rates heading into 2027 * An update on federal rulemaking around English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers The market may be quieter than it was a few weeks ago, but beneath the surface, capacity is still shifting. And what happens between now and the holiday season could tell us a lot about where freight rates are headed next year. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.