In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest figures on employment in trucking and assess the latest info surrounding diesel prices. Plus, we consider the employment situation more broadly, discuss a couple of key indicators of the industrial and consumer sectors, and recap the week in the spot market for truck freight as usual.<br>The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.<br><br>Download the PDF: https://ftrintel.com/trucking-podcast<br>Support the show

Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 5, 2026

FTR | State of Freight

Welcome to this week's episode of FTR's Weekly Trucking Update Podcast, hosted by Avery Weiss. Join Avery each week as he dissects everything from market trends to economic indicators to explore how these factors are shaping the trucking landscape. Download the graphics package at FTRintel.com slash trucking dash podcast

and feel free to use those slides as you defend your transportation thought leadership within your own company. So buckle up as we embark on a journey through the dynamic and ever-changing world of trucking. And now, here's your host, Avery Weiss. Welcome to FTR's Weekly Trucking Market Update. I'm Avery Weiss, Vice President of Trucking.

This is episode 385 for the week of October 5, 2026. Before we start, a reminder, you can download a PDF with graphics related to this discussion at FTRintel.com slash trucking dash podcast. So last week was the jobs report. So that means we always start, or almost always start, with payroll jobs in trucking in related sectors, and we will do that this week.

For higher trucking in September added payroll jobs for a third straight month seasonally adjusted for a total of 8,000 jobs during that period. Prior to the past three months, trucking had not added to seasonally adjusted headcount for three straight months since August 2022. That was when the industry had completed a five-month run of job growth. The increase in September was 2,600 jobs.

That followed 4,200 jobs added in August and 1,200 jobs in July. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised its prior months estimates slightly, the net change for July and August was an increase of just 200 jobs. Trucking also achieved a milestone, although just barely, in September as panel employment was up one-tenth of one percent year-over-year.

Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 5, 2026

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 5, 2026

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.