📉 Freight’s in Neutral, But Intermodal’s Revving: July 2025 State of the Industry Breakdown

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Ryder & FreightWaves just dropped their mid-year pulse check — and if you blink, you’ll miss the moves that could make (or break) your Q3

Intro – It Ain’t Doom and Gloom, But It Ain’t a Party Either

If you’re wondering why your phone’s been dry, your dispatcher’s been twitchy, or your usual hot lanes are lookin’ like a ghost town — you’re not alone.

The July 2025 “State of the Industry” white paper from Ryder and FreightWaves (powered by SONAR data) just confirmed what a lot of us out here already feel: Truckload’s in a funk, but the intermodal wave is building fast, and global freight ain’t sittin’ still.

Let’s break it down like a roadside axle repair — piece by piece, clean and honest.

Key Freight Trends – The Road Is Uneven

🚢 Ocean spot rates are jumping – Thanks to calmer U.S.–China tensions and messy geopolitics elsewhere, overseas bookings are heating up like a summer hood. This means more freight coming in through the ports… eventually landing inland.

🚚 Truckload demand? Still flat – No major bounce in sight. If you’ve been wondering when the peak season will hit? It hasn’t yet. Contract freight is stagnant and spot markets are just vibing — not thriving.

🚂 Intermodal is gearing up for a Q3 surge – All those imports coming in? They gotta move. And guess what? Rail + truck = intermodal is looking real tasty for shippers needing fast, flexible options.

💼 The economy is mixed signals city – Consumers are cautious, manufacturers are sluggish, but the Fed’s holding rates steady. Translation: The market might stabilize, but we ain’t betting the truck on it yet.

For Truckers – What You Need to Watch Right Now

1. Truckload isn’t broken… but it’s idling
SONAR shows rejection rates staying elevated, but that’s more about capacity than volume. Big fleets have slimmed down, and now they’re playing hard to get with tenders — leaving opportunity on the table if you’re nimble.

2. Intermodal is your Q3 hustle lane
If you ain’t tapped into intermodal contracts or broker lanes yet, this is the time. Rail yards are going to be flooded with containers that need last-mile moves. If you’ve got the right setup? Eat now.

3. Spot rate snipers are circling
Low volume means spot opportunities will come fast and disappear faster. Stay sharp with your lanes and don’t jump at the first cheap load that pings your app.

Freight Movement – The Global Vibes are Real

Ocean to port to rail to YOU – That’s the chain. And right now, ocean freight is where the ripples start. Bookings are way up, and port traffic is stacking up. That means rail and drayage loads are about to explode in August/September.

China tariffs & trade shifts – The easing of some trade friction has opened up new booking windows. What that means for truckers? More imports = more action, especially in coastal states and major inland ports (Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, etc.).

Cross-border freight with Mexico’s also heating – Don’t sleep on the southern lanes. U.S.–Mexico border zones are prepping for overflow in the wake of rerouted global trade.

What Ryder & SONAR Say Without Saying It

While they’re playing it safe with neutral language, here’s the unfiltered version:

💥 Truckload will struggle until the holiday freight ramps up.

🚀 Intermodal will carry Q3, especially for flexible O/Os and regional carriers.

📉 If you’re sitting still, you’re gonna miss the wave.

And the best part? SONAR’s showing that the ones who adapt now will get the goods before everyone else catches on.

The Smart Trucker’s Playbook – What to Do Now

✅ Adjust Your Lane Strategy – Focus on rail-connected regions, drayage work, and high-volume intermodal contracts.

✅ Keep Tools Like DAT, SONAR, and Load Boards Handy – Don’t rely on one source. Data is your co-driver this quarter.

✅ Stay Nimble – You don’t need to chase every load — just the right ones.

✅ Prepare for the Q4 bounce – When truckload finally rebounds, it’ll hit fast. Get your equipment, maintenance, and finances right now so you can run full throttle.

Bottom Line – The Industry Ain’t Dead, It’s Just Changing

Ryder and SONAR just handed us the cheat codes. If you read between the numbers, it’s clear:

Intermodal is the freight MVP for Q3. Truckload will have to wait its turn. Ocean rates are your early-warning radar. And the smart drivers will play the long game.

📣 Call to Action:
If this market shift has you feeling stuck, you need more than just freight — you need freedom.

👉 Start building off-duty income at TruckersideHustle.com
👉 Create your exit plan before the next crash at RetireFromTrucking.com

Don’t just survive this industry shift. Dominate it. 💪