Freightonomics | Freight Market vs. Bulk Market: Spot Rates, Trade Wars, & 2026 Outlook

Zach Strickland of Freightonomics sits down with two expert guests: Henry Byers, Director of Pricing at KCH Transportation, and Jared Flinn, Co-Founder and Operating Partner at BulkLoads, to dissect the diverging paths of the freight market and the red-hot bulk market.
The conversation covers critical dynamics impacting the industry, including:

• Dry Van/Reefer Volatility: Henry Byers discusses the choppy, frothy conditions and upward pressure on spot rates in the domestic truckload market, pointing to unexpected pockets like Indianapolis ripping and volatility in long-haul segments like Ontario, California to Chicago.
• The Booming Bulk Market: Jared Flinn notes that the bulk market, particularly in agriculture, is experiencing all-time highs and operating completely opposite to the dry van/reefer sector. He shares that the bulk market is insulated, more regional, and a "great place to live right now" for carriers.
• Trade War Impact: The experts explore how the trade war, including the lack of China buying US soybeans, has affected both domestic supply chains and the containerized freight epicenter of Southern California.
• 2026 Outlook & Hot Takes: The guests wrap up with their predictions for the coming year, with a bullish outlook for the bulk market and a forecast for continued volatility and upward rate pressure in the truckload sector.

Don't miss this deep dive into the current freight environment and what to watch out for in 2026!

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