Trucking rates and freight demand have rallied ever since the doldrums of spring 2020.

Spot rates began to rise, which pushed up contract rates. High demand converged with labor constraints and equipment shortages to create tight capacity. It all meant a challenging environment for shippers trying to procure trucking services.

So, logistics managers got creative. Many revamped contracts to guarantee space, while others doubled down on their private fleets. The stories below look at trends in trucking rates and capacity, and how shippers responded.