The Freight Market Finally Turning?

Estes Express Lines says its LTL business is seeing record strength again, reporting a 15% year-over-year tonnage increase last week and back-to-back record weeks, according to Webb Estes on FreightWaves Today. The jump aligns with a broader supply-side freight pickup that Estes links to improved hiring and load factors across the network, though a calendar effect helped comparisons: Wednesday landed at month-end this year rather than Tuesday. Volume is coming from manufacturing—especially truck and automotive—plus groceries and retail. Next-day regional service is fastest-growing, with Q3 shipments up 13% year over year versus 2.5% for the rest of the network. Estes attributes outperformance partly to reduced truckload capacity and cites low driver (7.5%) and dock worker (11.5%) turnover. Mastio named Estes best-value national LTL carrier for the fifth straight year, and Estes says pay raises and new benefits are planned within a month.