Forecasting Freight Demand: Three ways forecasting can help you survive in '25

In a market defined by volatility, disruption, and uncertainty, staying competitive in 2025 will come down to one thing: knowing more, sooner.

Companies can no longer afford to rely on gut instinct or outdated data to guide multi-million-dollar decisions. Whether you're a shipper negotiating rates, a carrier planning equipment investments, or a supplier aligning production, having timely and accurate forecasts is the edge you need—and market intelligence is how you get it.

Why Forecasting Matters Now More Than Ever

Every move in the freight market has a ripple effect. A dip in consumer confidence, a policy shift on emissions standards, or a surge in e-commerce can quickly tighten capacity or tank rates. With freight demand tied so closely to macroeconomic trends, decision-makers need the ability to see what's coming—not just react to what’s already happened.

Freight•cast®, FTR's proprietary forecasting methodology, is built on the mantra, that: The economy generates freight, and freight drives the demand for carriers and equipment. 

Let FTR give your data context

Market intelligence goes beyond raw data. It’s the process of transforming complex datasets—from economic indicators to shipment volumes—into actionable insight. At its best, it answers questions like:

Where is demand headed over the next 6–24 months?

What shifts are likely in the truckload, intermodal, and rail markets?

How should we time our investments in equipment or capacity?

When should we lock in rates—and when should we wait?

In 2025, companies that can synthesize market signals into strategy will hold the advantage.

Three Competitive Advantages of Freight Market Intelligence

1. Smarter Budgeting and Procurement
   Say goodbye to reactive spend. With demand forecasts and cost projections, logistics teams can negotiate contracts with confidence and reduce overpaying during peak rate cycles.

2. More Strategic Planning
   Forecasting allows operations and executive teams to align on long-term initiatives—like expanding into new lanes or scaling back on underperforming regions—before market conditions force a pivot.

3. Risk Mitigation
   Economic slowdowns, policy changes, and geopolitical disruptions don’t have to catch you off guard. Market intelligence helps you model different scenarios and build contingency plans with data, not guesswork.

The Bottom Line

2025 won’t be easy—but it will be winnable. The leaders who will thrive are those who see uncertainty not as a barrier, but as an opportunity to outmaneuver their competitors through insight.

That starts with market intelligence. Check out our subscription services to see how we can guide you.

Want to learn more about turning Transportation Intelligence?  Click on below to read past blogs.

If you found this blog valuable, don’t miss the opportunity to go deeper at the 2025 FTR Transportation Conference, happening September 8–11 in Indianapolis, IN.

For over 20 years, supply chain and transportation professionals have relied on this event to gain unbiased forecasts, expert economic insights, and real-world strategies to navigate a constantly shifting freight environment.

🛠️ Truck Equipment • September 8
🚛 Truck Freight • September 9
🚂 Rail Freight • September 10
🚄 Rail Equipment • September 11

Whether you're a shipper, carrier, supplier, or investor — this is where data, insight, and industry leadership converge.

The transportation landscape is shifting—and fast. Join us for a complimentary webinar exploring the Key Issues in Transportation that could reshape your strategies for the rest of 2025.

📅 Save your spot now and get insights that help you stay strategic, not reactive.

🔍 “You can’t afford to make short-term decisions based on short-term data.”