Canada Freight Rates

Truckload Rates in Canada – March 2025

Truckload rates in Canada are showing signs of softening after a period of pre-tariff-driven activity, especially in cross-border lanes. Tariff pressures and a tightening domestic fleet are contributing to shifting market dynamics. Below is the latest breakdown of spot rates for key Canadian freight corridors.

Spot Market Rates

Intra-Canada Dry Van:
Spot rates fell to $1.59 per mile in February 2025, down 10¢ from January, as pre-tariff inventory movements tapered off. Year-over-year comparisons remain positive but are beginning to normalize. Market conditions are tightening due to reduced tractor availability, helping mitigate some of the rate pressure.

US to Canada:
Northbound dry van rates retreated from January highs as pre-tariff surges subsided. Rates remain elevated relative to 2024 but have begun to reflect more typical seasonal patterns. Slowing US industrial activity may weigh on demand for northbound freight in coming months.

Canada to US:
Southbound rates experienced sharper declines in early March, driven by newly enacted tariffs on Canadian exports and corresponding retaliatory measures. Equipment availability remains balanced, but the cross-border market faces growing uncertainty from evolving trade tensions.

To see how Canadian rates change in the future, and for detailed analysis and forecasts or truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal, see ACT's freight & transportation forecast.