After two years of a soft freight market defined by overcapacity and depressed spot rates, 2025 is shaping up to be a turning point. Capacity is gradually leaving the market, demand signals are strengthening, and shippers who plan ahead will be better positioned than those who wait and react.
Here’s what UAT Solutions is watching — and what it means for your supply chain.
Capacity Is Slowly Tightening
The post-pandemic capacity flood is receding. Carrier exits have outpaced new entrants for the past several quarters, particularly among smaller owner-operators who couldn’t sustain operations at below-cost spot rates. While we’re not back to 2021 tightness, the direction is clear: capacity will be harder to find as the year progresses.
What this means for you: Lock in carrier relationships now. Shippers who invested in broker partnerships during the soft market are entering 2025 with better access to reliable capacity than those who went purely transactional.
Cross-Border Volumes Are Rising
Canada-US cross-border freight saw meaningful volume increases in Q4 2024, driven by reshoring activity and nearshoring from Mexico. Manufacturing inputs, automotive parts, and consumer goods are all contributing to elevated cross-border demand.
UAT Solutions has deepened its cross-border carrier network specifically to serve this demand, ensuring competitive rates and smooth customs coordination for shippers moving freight across the border.
Temperature-Controlled Demand Stays Strong
The cold chain continues to grow faster than general freight. E-commerce grocery, pharmaceutical distribution, and fresh food logistics are all driving sustained demand for reefer capacity — which remains tighter than the dry van market.
If you ship temperature-sensitive goods, working with a broker who has established reefer carrier relationships is essential heading into peak season.
Our Advice for 2025
- Build carrier relationships now — don’t wait for the market to tighten before reaching out to brokers
- Review your LTL strategy — consolidation options can save significantly as rates normalize
- Plan cross-border shipments early — customs clearance times have lengthened; buffer your timelines
- Communicate volume forecasts — the more your broker knows, the better they can secure capacity
The UAT Solutions team is here to help you navigate whatever the market brings. Reach out today to discuss your 2025 freight strategy.