Columbus, Ohio — The latest data from the ACT For-Hire Trucking Index points to a tightening convergence between available freight and active fleet capacity as the industry moves through the middle of the year. Following a temporary boost during the annual Roadcheck enforcement period, the seasonally adjusted Volume Index retreated 5.5 points in June to register at 48.9, down from May's reading of 54.4. While monthly figures fluctuate, performance through the first half of the year averages 48.8, marking a notable improvement over the 42.8 average recorded during the same timeframe last year.

Carter Vieth, research analyst at ACT Research, points out that despite ongoing financial pressures facing retail buyers, real U.S. retail sales have climbed 1.8 percent year-to-date. Softening inflation metrics continue to support expectations for modest real income growth. Even so, broader surface freight metrics remain uneven across the board, with benchmarks like the Cass Freight Index and DAT spot market loads lingering near cyclical lows.

On the supply side, the Capacity Index edged upward by 3.6 points to hit 49.3 in June, recovering slightly from 45.6 the prior month. Despite this modest monthly uptick, the reading represents the twelfth consecutive month that capacity has remained below the crucial 50-mark threshold. This prolonged contraction stands as the longest continuous stretch of fleet reduction recorded since the survey launched in late 2009. Slowing sales of new Class 8 tractors across the country indicate that private fleet growth is cooling, though private fleet insourcing continues to siphon freight away from traditional for-hire carriers.

What This Means for Drivers

For CDL-A drivers and owner-operators navigating current spot and contract markets, these shifting metrics translate into continued rate volatility and intense competition for steady freight. Independent operators must keep a close eye on operating expenses and fuel costs while capacity slowly adjusts downward across the sector. Fleet managers and trucking companies hiring experienced OTR truck driver talent face a complex operating environment where private fleet dominance alters traditional rate recovery timelines.

Industry Reaction

Industry analysts emphasize that private fleet expansion—which remains largely unmeasured by standard for-hire tracking indicators—is fundamentally altering the recovery timeline for market rates. Because private fleets continue absorbing a significant share of available shipping demand, the traditional path toward higher spot rates and balanced equipment utilization is taking longer to materialize than in past freight cycles. Monitoring heavy-duty truck sales and equipment purchasing trends remains essential for carriers trying to anticipate when rate structures will bottom out and stabilize.

Key Points

• The seasonally adjusted Volume Index dropped to 48.9 in June, retreating from May's Roadcheck-boosted level of 54.4.
• The Capacity Index climbed to 49.3, marking twelve straight months below the 50 threshold.
• The Supply-Demand Balance Index declined to 49.6 as freight volumes softened and fleet capacity saw minor upward adjustments.
• Persistent private fleet expansion continues to lengthen the timeline required for for-hire market rates to rebound.

Looking for a better trucking job? US Trucker's free job-matching service connects CDL-A drivers, OTR drivers, regional drivers, and owner-operators with 500+ top US carriers. Leave your details in the form on this page and a recruiter will call you within one business day. Trucking companies are hiring now.

Photo by Boris Hamer on Pexels