The freight market is entering the early stages of the holiday shipping season without a clear signal on whether demand will be muted. Economic conditions suggest that spot rate volatility will be elevated but unlikely to last long enough to drive a meaningful increase in contract rates.
While this season may be slower from a demand perspective, shippers still have plenty of reasons to prepare for potential service disruptions and to limit reliance on the spot market. Rates have already spiked several times this year, even outside of holiday periods. Drivers may also require higher pay to be persuaded to stay on the road through the holidays, as standard rates may no longer be enough to justify missing home time or risking extended delays.

Full Report Here: SONAR Monthly Market Update_ October 2025