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This week’s top stories in trucking

July’s 55.6% PMI highest in 4 years; LTL carriers getting bullish

The freight market may be showing its strongest signs of recovery yet. U.S. manufacturing activity surged to a 55.6% Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) in July—the highest reading in four years—signaling increased production and renewed economic momentum. As factories ramp up output, more goods will need to move through the supply chain, giving carriers and logistics providers fresh reasons for optimism. The positive outlook is already being reflected in the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector, where carriers are reporting stronger shipment activity and growing confidence about the months ahead. While freight volumes have remained uneven across parts of the industry, the latest data suggests demand is gradually strengthening as businesses increase production and replenish inventories. For owner-operators and small fleet owners, this could be an encouraging sign that freight opportunities are beginning to improve. If manufacturing continues to expand, the second half of the year may bring increased shipment volumes, stronger pricing conditions, and a healthier freight market overall.

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Fleet liability playbook shifts from defense to proof

As fleet litigation becomes more complex, carriers are shifting from reacting after an accident to proactively proving safe operations before one occurs. The article highlights how dash cameras, telematics, driver coaching, and thorough documentation can strengthen a fleet’s defense while reducing liability exposure. For small trucking businesses, investing in safety technology and consistent recordkeeping can help protect both drivers and the business from costly legal claims.

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Truck capacity tightens as shippers pay more for less

Trucking capacity continued to tighten in the second quarter, driving transportation spending higher even as shipment volumes declined. The shift reflects a more competitive freight market, with fewer available trucks leading to stronger pricing for carriers. For small trucking businesses, tighter capacity may create more opportunities to secure profitable loads and strengthen rate negotiations in the months ahead.

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Fleet demand stays strong despite July slowdown in Class 8 orders

Although Class 8 truck orders slowed in July compared to previous months, overall fleet demand remains resilient as carriers continue investing in new equipment. Industry analysts note that the decline reflects normal seasonal patterns rather than weakening market confidence, with many fleets already having secured production slots for upcoming builds. Demand for replacement trucks also remains healthy as carriers prepare for future freight growth and equipment upgrades. For small trucking businesses, the report suggests that confidence in the freight market remains strong, making it worthwhile to plan ahead for future equipment purchases as production capacity and availability continue to tighten.

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Cassandra Gaines expands transport risk framework with BAVRA Standard for shippers

Transportation risk expert Cassandra Gaines has introduced the BAVRA (Balanced Approach to Vendor Risk Assessment) Standard, a new framework designed to help shippers evaluate carriers using a more comprehensive approach than traditional safety scores alone. The standard encourages businesses to consider operational performance, compliance, safety practices, and overall risk management when selecting transportation partners. For small trucking companies, this shift presents an opportunity to stand out by demonstrating strong safety programs, reliable operations, and consistent compliance—qualities that can help build trust with shippers and strengthen long-term business relationships.

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Spot rates log a third straight weekly slide

(Source: SONAR)

Summary:

The National Truckload Index (Linehaul Only), NTIL.USA, sits at $2.61 per mile, off 0.38% (about a penny) on the day. That’s a clean pullback from the cycle peak just above $3.10 reached in late July — the index has now given back roughly 45–50 cents from that high. It still runs about 45 cents above the trailing-year average of $2.16, so linehaul rates remain elevated versus the past twelve months even as the summer spike unwinds.

Zooming out on the full year of data: NTIL spent August through October 2025 grinding along in the high-$1.60s to $1.80s, then began a gradual climb into year-end, crossing $2.00 by December and touching roughly $2.20 by mid-January. From there it chopped sideways in a $2.00–$2.25 band through the winter and into spring — a fairly quiet, rangebound market. That calm broke in May, when the index turned sharply higher, adding close to 80–90 cents over about eight weeks. It pushed through $2.50, then $2.75, then $3.00, cresting just past $3.10 in late July before rolling over into the pullback that’s brought it down to today’s $2.61.

To calculate the NTIL, fuel costs are based on the average retail price of diesel and an assumed fuel efficiency of 6.5 miles per gallon. The formula is NTID – (DTS.USA / 6.5).

A few caveats on this write-up: I pulled the current level, day-over-day change, and trailing-year average directly off the chart labels, but the week-by-week step-downs and exact peak value are read visually off the line rather than from underlying data points, so treat those as approximate. If you can share the SONAR export or underlying series (CSV/API), I can tighten the precision — exact weekly closes, the exact peak date and value, and a cleaner read on whether this is a steady grind-down like the example you sent or a choppier retracement.