Uber Freight warned that constrained trucking capacity, volatile diesel prices and rapidly changing U.S. trade policy could drive another surge in spot freight rates in the fourth quarter, according to its Q3 Market Update & Outlook Report released Thursday. National average dry van contract linehaul rates reached $2.39 per mile in July, an 18% increase from July 2025, while dry van spot linehaul also averaged $2.39 per mile in July, 47% higher year over year. Spot pricing has since eased as the seasonal July peak faded, with van spot linehaul averaging $2.21 per mile during the week of Aug. 26, still 35.6% above the same period last year and 23.8% above the nine-year seasonal average. Uber Freight said more than 48,000 noncompliant drivers have exited the industry over the past year and Class 8 truck backlogs represent roughly nine months of production, while about 20,000 Mexican truck drivers lost U.S. visas between April 2025 and April 2026. The national average diesel price reached $5.652 per gallon during the week of Aug. 24, the highest level of 2026 and 52.4% above the same week last year, and Uber Freight recommends shippers use the relatively stable September-October period to secure baseline capacity and repair routing guides before the traditional late-October freight peak.
Uber Technologies IncUber Freight's report warns of constrained trucking capacity and rising freight rates, which could affect its freight brokerage margins, but no direct company-specific development is stated.
