Left Lane Associates

The U.S. Logistics Managers’ Index recorded a transportation pricing reading of 96 out of 100 for May, the fastest growth rate in the index’s 10-year history. The report was direct in its assessment: “This is the hottest that the transportation market has been in over four years.”

Capacity continued to contract, tender rejections are at multi-year highs, and spot rates are climbing, driven by the fuel shock from the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing removal of non-compliant drivers following the FMCSA’s enforcement actions.

To learn more, the LMI’s findings are covered in detail in this FreightWaves article: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/transportation-pricing-index-logs-record-growth-rate-in-may

The BUILD America 250 Act was approved overwhelmingly by the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee last week, and for trucking and logistics leaders, it’s worth paying close attention to what is inside.

The bill features two long-overdue ground-level wins for drivers, namely mandatory restroom access at shippers, receivers, and warehouses, and expanded federal grant funding for commercial truck parking. Beyond these practical, human-centred fixes, the bill also takes aim at predatory lease-purchase agreements, broker qualification rulemaking requirements, the driver apprenticeship program, and mandates a study on cabotage violations.

To learn more, read the FreightWaves article here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/house-committee-oks-transportation-bill-that-cuts-wide-swath-across-trucking

Supply chain volatility is no longer episodic, but rather a structural element of the modern operating landscape. This recent Forbes article shares five lessons for leading through volatility: why prioritization delegates chaos, how most performance problems are actually constraint problems, why hero leadership is a concentration risk, how governance creates composure under pressure, and why chronic firefighting is a leadership choice, not an inevitability.

Ultimately, resilience isn’t about effort; it’s about design.

Check out the article to learn more: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2026/03/25/five-lessons-on-leading-through-supply-chain-volatility/

A private member’s bill mandating dashboard cameras on all commercial vehicles travelling on B.C. highways passed unanimously through the provincial legislature this week. The BC Trucking Association endorsed the bill and noted that approximately 75% of collisions involving a commercial vehicle aren’t the fault of the driver, making outward-facing dash cameras a meaningful protection for carriers as much as a safety measure.

However, the BCTA also highlighted that this mandate must be applied on a national level, as a province-by-province approach risks creating “another patchwork of regulations for carriers operating across Canada”.

Take a look at the article on TruckNews.com to learn more: https://www.trucknews.com/regulations/b-c-law-coming-to-mandate-dashboard-cameras-for-commercial-vehicles/1003215658/

Selling a business is about more than numbers. It is about your goals, identity, and what comes next. Founders should clarify what they truly want, whether staying involved, maximizing returns, or protecting their team and culture. Early preparation across finances, operations, and personal readiness ensures a smoother transition. Whether you are thinking about selling soon or simply preparing for the eventual possibility, the best results come from planning ahead.

Organize financials and key documents, understand your company’s value beyond numbers, choose buyers aligned with your vision, and plan for the human side of selling. Transparent communication, realistic valuations, and small actions reduce risk and build confidence. Preparing early helps founders preserve what they have built and step into their next chapter with clarity.

Learn more by reading this Forbes article: https://ow.ly/KOpU50YtvpI

The American Trucking Associations For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index held flat in April at 117.8 and ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello framed that as a positive.

The nuance, however, is in the composition of this freight, with growth concentrated in flatbed-heavy sectors tied to infrastructure buildout (commercial construction, steel, and electrical systems, for example), while anything connected to discretionary consumer spending or housing is underperforming.

Capacity in the U.S. is tightening, but the question is whether consumer conditions and energy prices hold up long enough to broaden the recovery beyond its current pockets of strength.

Check out the Transport Topics article for more info: https://www.ttnews.com/articles/ata-tonnage-april-2026

Eid Mubarak from Left Lane Associates.

Eid al-Adha is a meaningful time of faith, reflection, generosity, and community for those who celebrate around the world.

As families and communities come together, we extend our warmest wishes for peace, prosperity, and continued blessings in the months ahead.

Today, we pause to honour and remember the brave individuals who have served and sacrificed for their country.

Memorial Day stands as a reminder of courage, service, and dedication. Values that continue to shape communities across the United States.

We extend our deepest respect and gratitude to those who have given so much.

Since 2020, combined parts and labour costs for heavy-duty trucks have risen by 27.4%. In the U.S., the 25% tariff on imported Class 8 trucks and parts – which took effect in November 2025 – adds up to $35,000 to the delivered cost of a new truck.

The window between now and a full freight market recovery is the time to address equipment condition proactively. When utilization goes back up and trucks are running harder, deferred maintenance becomes emergency maintenance, and at current prices and shop wait times.

For business owners in the trucking sector, fleet condition, maintenance discipline, and parts sourcing strategy are increasingly the variables that separate healthy operations from distressed ones, and acquirers are paying close attention to all three.

Read the FreightWaves article to learn more: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/your-truck-is-getting-more-expensive-to-fix-here-is-the-data-on-why-and-what-to-do-before-it-gets-worse

The trucking industry’s long-running “driver shortage” debate has become a major topic this year, but the label doesn’t quite fit what’s happening in 2026.

A structural shift is occurring, driven by enforcement and technology, meaning that while available capacity may feel tighter, an argument can be made that it is cleaner and more reliable than it was several years ago.

For carriers built on compliance, this shift is creating opportunity, with pricing power slowly returning after a prolonged downturn. This is an environment where operators with strong credentials and vetted fleets are rewarded for not cutting corners during the freight boom.

Check out this article from Inbound Logistics to learn more: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/driver-shortage-or-market-reset-how-compliance-demographics-and-capacity-are-reshaping-freight/