07/20/2026
Carriers are turning down more freight than they have in four years — and shippers are paying for it.
Tender rejection rates hit 17.55% in June, the highest level since 2022.
That means carriers are walking away from contracted freight at a pace not seen in four years, and capacity is shifting hard toward the spot market.
For shippers, that shows up as blown route guides, last-minute rate hikes, and loads that don't move on the day they're supposed to.
Re**er and van spot rates are now running above contract pricing in several lanes, a signal that the market has flipped in carriers' favor, at least for now.
The takeaway: capacity planning can't be a once-a-quarter conversation anymore. It has to be continuous.
What are you seeing on your lanes this month: rejections, rate spikes, both?