The latest Weekly Shipper Report from CarrierSource paints a picture of waning enthusiasm among shippers seeking trucking capacity, with search activity plummeting to its lowest point in over a month. This data, capturing searches on the platform by major players like members of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Food Shippers of America, underscores a broader freight market malaise. As the report notes, the “Shipper Search Index fell 10.2% WoW to 77.92, the lowest level in over a month, indicating softening shipper engagement to end October.” This drop aligns with historical patterns where October often sees softer freight demand, transitioning from summer peaks to holiday build-up, but it’s exacerbated by overarching economic weakness in consumption and production.
Traditionally, October marks a lull in the freight cycle, post-harvest and pre-holiday rush, with shippers pulling back on aggressive capacity hunts. CarrierSource’s insights confirm this seasonal dip, but place it within a context of persistent macroeconomic uncertainty. The index is now “26% off the September mini-peak (108.4) and 43% below February’s high (136.8),” reflecting not just calendar-driven softness but a reactive shipper mindset amid sluggish consumer spending and production slowdowns. Cross-referencing broader indicators, the report highlights that the “search volume pattern matches broader freight market weakness, with SONAR’s OTVI still lagging early 2025 highs and DAT’s load-to-truck ratios remaining at multi-year lows for dry van and reefer.” Analysts from Stifel and FTR are cited cautioning against optimism, noting that “consumer spending remains soft and tariff policies are clouding demand forecasts heading into Q4.” This suggests shippers are hedging bets in an economy where retail sales have cooled and industrial output faces tariff-related disruptions, leading to fragmented rather than sustained demand.
Equipment type trends reveal a choppy landscape, with no clear momentum. Dry van searches “bounced modestly, recovering slightly after last week’s dramatic plunge, but still well below early fall levels, signaling fragile demand recovery.” This tepid rebound points to cautious restocking in consumer goods amid weak retail consumption. Reefer interest “cooled, falling off from recent strength,” as “seasonal food and beverage demand appears to have leveled off post-holiday staging,” mirroring reduced agricultural production and softer grocery sales. Open deck activity “slumped again, giving back much of October’s gains,” with the report attributing this to “construction-related freight appears to be pulling back heading into colder months.” Power only demand “slipped, reversing course after a stable stretch,” as shippers remain “hesitant to commit to flexible trailer options amid lingering rate uncertainty.” Overall, the report observes that “equipment demand remains choppy and directionless, with short-term pops failing to establish lasting momentum,” indicative of shippers prioritizing tactical responses over strategic investments in a weakening economy.
Specialized services show similar volatility, underscoring a “tactical, short-term mindset among shippers prioritizing flexible and compliance-critical options.” A bright spot emerges in drayage, where searches “spiked again, extending a multi-week upward pattern and reinforcing strength in port-centric freight.” This resilience in import flows through West Coast and Gulf gateways defies the broader downturn, likely buoyed by tariff-driven front-loading of goods. Drop trailer searches “ticked higher, showing renewed shipper appetite for flexible trailer capacity,” consistent with “cautious inventory management strategies seen in SONAR and FTR data.”
Conversely, hazardous materials activity “cooled, easing sharply from prior surges but still holding above midyear lows,” signaling steady but not surging demand in regulated industrial sectors. Lift gate demand “slipped slightly, continuing a gradual downtrend as post-promo retail replenishment winds down,” while last mile interest “eased, reflecting a quieter retail push and ongoing caution around consumer spending heading into the holiday quarter.” These patterns highlight depressed activity in consumer-facing logistics, tied to softening household spending.
There are still isolated pockets of demand, amid the more widespread softness across the country. Texas markets “surged, especially around Houston and Dallas, driven by cross-border freight, petrochemical shipments, and resilient retail logistics in the Sun Belt.” Houston’s 27% week-over-week (WoW) increase in port-related searches underscores the strength of the energy and petchem sector, with oil and energy leading industry searches there. The Midwest held firm, with “hot spots… particularly Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, fueled by regional distribution and manufacturing corridors.” Southeast activity concentrated in “Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville, suggesting continued strength in e-commerce staging and grocery distribution ahead of peak season,” bolstered by Savannah/Atlanta’s standout 175% WoW jump. The Pacific Northwest, including “Seattle and Eugene, saw elevated engagement — a signal that port-adjacent and intermodal lanes are playing a bigger role amid broader truckload softness.” West Coast ports remained resilient, with “heavy search activity centered in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Portland — reflecting ongoing container volume and tariff-driven import timing.” Los Angeles/Long Beach posted a 55% WoW gain, with oil and energy topping industries.
Yet these bright spots contrast with depressed areas, such as the Northeast, where New York/New Jersey saw only 40% WoW growth but a -25% month-over-month decline, led by medical devices. Seattle/Tacoma dipped -16% WoW, though paper and forest products dominated.
