# Category: Flatbed markets

## Flatbed Report: The AI boom is a freight story, and it’s just getting started
Every conversation about artificial intelligence tends to focus on chips and software, but for carriers and brokers, the real story

## Flatbed Report: Manufacturing holds its growth streak
Manufacturing kept expanding in June, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI coming in at 53.3%, marking a sixth straight month of

## Flatbed Report: Trucking tonnage takes a short-term dip
U.S. trucking activity hit a bit of a speed bump this spring, with the ATA Tonnage Index May 2026 contracting

## Flatbed Report: Farm equipment sales signal headwinds for ag flatbed freight
The farm economy is sending a clear warning signal to flatbed carriers who haul agricultural equipment. U.S. retail sales of

## World Cup freight: host city rates break away from the pack
Two weeks ago, World Cup host city reefer rates and the rest of the country were rising together — host

## Flatbed Report: Peak season came early, and Texas flatbed carriers are getting paid like it
The SCOTUS ruling that invalidated IEEPA tariffs in February didn’t reduce trade uncertainty — it reshuffled it. The administration replaced

## Flatbed Demand Report: Farm machinery sales signal flatbed headwinds ahead
The April 2026 AEM Farm Equipment Flash report delivered a mixed picture for agricultural machinery demand — and a cautionary

## Flatbed Report: Fewer hurricanes expected in 2026, but freight disruption risks remain
The early forecasts for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season are pointing toward a near-average or slightly below-average year for storm

## Flatbed Report: Tonnage holds firm; what the ATA’s April reading means for flatbed carriers
The broader freight market is showing more resilience than the headlines suggest. The ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index came in

## Flatbed Report: Permian rigs are back. So are flatbed demand and spot rates
All rates cited below exclude fuel surcharges, and load volume refers to loads moved unless otherwise noted. The rate charts

## Flatbed Report: Home Depot is going pro, and flatbed carriers should pay attention
Home Depot is aggressively pivoting from DIY shoppers to professional contractors — acquiring wholesale distributors of roofing shingles, drywall, and

## Flatbed Report: March housing starts rebound, but flatbed’s real signal is in the permits
Data Analysis for the Week Ending Saturday, May 9th, 2026. All rates cited below exclude fuel surcharges, and load volume