July marked a turning point for cross-border freight. For the first time this year, freight moving into Canada grew faster than freight heading south, with inbound loads up 46% year-over-year. Overall market activity remained strong, finishing 41% higher than July 2025, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year growth above 40%, even as month-over-month volumes eased 7% from June.
Truck availability also continued to climb. Loadlink’s truck-to-load ratio rose to 2.71 trucks per load in July, a 16% increase from June, giving brokers a wider selection of carriers to work with. Even so, the ratio remained 29% below July 2025, meaning fewer trucks were chasing each load than at this time last year. Inbound freight is now leading cross-border growth, equipment postings are rising across the board, and Canadian volumes remain well ahead of last year, setting up the numbers below.
Canadian Freight Index Highlights
· Month-over-month: Volumes decreased 7% compared to June 2026.
· Year-over-year: Volumes increased 41% compared to July 2025.
Cross-Border Highlights
Cross-border freight accounted for 58% of postings from Canadian-based customers, edging down slightly from June as intra-Canada activity picked up a larger share. The bigger story lies in the direction of growth, where inbound freight has quietly surpassed outbound for the first time this year.
- Inbound loads (U.S. → Canada) decreased 27% month-over-month but were 46% higher year-over-year, the strongest annual gain in cross-border direction. Equipment postings rose 14% from June and were 5% higher year-over-year.
- Outbound loads (Canada → U.S.) increased 16% month-over-month and were 35% higher year-over-year. Equipment postings rose 3% from June and were 10% lower year-over-year.
Outbound’s year-over-year growth has cooled steadily since its April peak, while inbound has picked up momentum in the opposite direction. The result is a more balanced cross-border market than the market has seen in months.
Intra-Canada Freight
Domestic freight accounted for 41% of postings in July, its largest share of the year.
- Month-over-month: Loads within Canada increased 3% compared to June.
- Year-over-year: Volumes were 41% higher than in July 2025.
- Equipment postings were 6% higher month-over-month and 9% higher year-over-year.
Intra-Canada was the only major category to grow month-over-month, and its share of postings reached its highest level of 2026. With volumes running well ahead of last year and equipment postings gaining in both directions, domestic lanes have become one of the most active and balanced segments of the market.
Equipment Trends
Top equipment postings in July:
- Dry Vans: 53%
- Reefers: 23%
- Flatbeds: 21%
- Other: 3%
Reefers gained share from June, tied to peak produce season activity, while flatbeds eased slightly. Dry vans continued to account for more than half of postings.
Truck-to-Load Ratio
The truck-to-load ratio in July was 2.71 trucks for every load posted on Loadlink.
- Month-over-month: Up from 2.34 in June 2026 (16% higher), reflecting continued growth in truck availability.
- Year-over-year: Down 29% compared to 3.83 in July 2025.
More trucks were available in July than in June, giving brokers a wider pool to draw from when covering loads. Because the ratio remained well below last July, carriers continued to operate in a market with less competition for available freight than they saw a year ago.
The Cross-Border Market Finds Better Balance in July
The direction of cross-border growth changed in July, and the broader market grew more balanced as a result. Inbound freight took the lead on annual growth, outbound continued to rise from a lower base, intra-Canada activity gained share, and truck postings kept climbing. Together, the figures point to a market that is no longer defined by one direction alone, giving carriers and brokers a more varied set of opportunities to build around.
“Inbound freight quietly overtook outbound in annual growth, and intra-Canada is running at its strongest share of the year. For carriers, that means opportunities are opening on more lanes than just southbound. For brokers, the wider selection of trucks and spread of activity make it a more workable market than it has been in a while,” said James Reyes, General Manager at Loadlink.
Loadlink continues to provide the visibility and insights members need to track freight activity, respond to changing lane dynamics, and make confident decisions as the market continues to shift.
About Loadlink Technologies
Loadlink Technologies is Canada’s leading freight matching platform. By connecting brokers and carriers, Loadlink helps businesses move freight efficiently and cost-effectively. Through innovative solutions, Loadlink supports the logistics sector by simplifying workflows and enhancing the capacity for freight movement across North America through our software.