The Perfect Storm: Why freight brokerages face a wave of failures in 2026

If the current freight climate continues, a number of freight brokerages—many of them large—will likely fail over the next year. The current market presents a toxic combination of sluggish freight volumes and firming spot rates, which is the worst possible environment for freight brokers. Understanding the Market Dynamics Freight brokerages act as intermediaries between shippers and carriers, profiting from the margins between contract rates (what they charge shippers) and spot rates (what they pay carri ...