LTL Market in August 2025: Warming Up or Still Chilling?

What the Numbers Say

• Load-to-Truck Ratios Up: Market trackers are reporting stronger demand in certain lanes. Higher ratios usually mean tightening capacity—a bullish signal for carriers.

• LTL Rates Rising: Large 3PLs and carriers are noting steady upward movement in contract and spot LTL pricing.

• Spot Market Still Sluggish: On the flip side, the spot market for truckload is down ~3.3% compared to last month, and year-over-year demand is still below historic averages.

Translation: the “green shoots” are there, but they’re patchy.

What’s Driving the Contradiction

1. Inventory Swings – Shippers are still working through warehouses stuffed with goods from the 2023–24 build-up. That suppresses new demand.

2. Trade & Tariff Pressures – Uncertainty in global trade is slowing manufacturing orders and imports.

3. Carrier Strategies – Some carriers are still trimming fleets to stabilize rates, while others are adding capacity into strong regional lanes.

Result: You get a “warm here, cold there” market instead of a clean rebound.

What Shippers Should Do Now

• Lock in Lanes Strategically: If you’ve got steady volume, negotiate now while rates are stabilizing—before capacity tightens further.

• Stay Flexible: Use mix of contract + spot to hedge against regional fluctuations.

• Watch Indices Closely: Follow Cass Freight Index, SONAR, and industry reports monthly—don’t just rely on last quarter’s rates.

Bottom Line

August isn’t the freight rebound everyone’s been waiting for. But it’s also not the deep freeze of 2024. Think of it as a lukewarm recovery—warming in spots, cooling in others.

At Moto Transportation, we keep our eye on these shifts daily so our customers don’t have to. Whether the market’s heating up or chilling down, we’ll help you move freight efficiently, predictably, and cost-effectively.