At the end of last year, looking ahead to 2025, the trucking industry was cautiously optimistic about the potential for freight rates and demand to rebound. The first quarter of the year, however, was rougher than expected due to a number of adverse factors, including ongoing freight market weakness, regulatory uncertainty and new tariffs that have roiled international supply chains. Traffic at some U.S. ports plummeted by as much as 30%. Truck manufacturers saw orders and sales drop as fleets grew reluctant to purchase new equipment. While port traffic is expected to surge in the near term since the U.S. and China agreed to pause tariffs, when will rest of the industry accelerate? How could the federal spending bill impact trucking? And what market trends should you be watching? ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello joins Seth Clevenger to break down current economic conditions and deliver his outlook for the back half of 2025 and beyond.
