ArcBest and ABF Freight to Hike LTL Rates by 5.9% on Average Starting June 22

ArcBest Corp. and its ABF Freight unit will raise less-than-truckload (LTL) customer rates by an average of 5.9% effective June 22, 2026, as part of a broader freight market rebound. The increase follows rising carrier costs and a surge in spot rates across North America’s trucking segments during the first five months of 2026. ArcBest, ranked No. 13 on Transport Topics’ Top 100 for-hire carriers list, and ABF Freight, No. 8 in the LTL segment, noted that the impact of the rate hike may vary by lane and shipment. The move aligns with strengthening contract rates, which typically trail spot market volatility. FTR Transportation Intelligence’s Trucking Conditions Index hit 11.6 in April, its highest level in over four years, signaling favorable conditions for carriers. ArcBest’s asset-based division reported a 10% rise in billed revenue per day in the first two months of Q2 2026, though tonnage per day increased by 5% while revenue per hundredweight (excluding fuel surcharges) remained flat. The company operates 4,229 tractors and 24,125 trailers. ABF Freight has also expanded its electric fleet, purchasing two Tesla Semi battery-electric tractors for California linehaul operations, with plans to extend service to Reno, Nevada, and potentially other locations. The company previously tested the Semi in a 2025 pilot, covering 4,494 miles with one unit, averaging 321 miles per day and consuming 1.55 kWh per mile—below Tesla’s claimed efficiency of under 2 kWh per mile. The Tesla Semi’s Nevada factory can produce up to 50,000 vehicles annually.