IMC’s Market Update on Tightening Capacity

The freight market is shifting. Rising import volumes and new federal regulations are tightening the driver pool. Here’s what’s behind the changes, what it means for your supply chain, and how IMC Logistics is already working to keep your freight moving.

What’s Driving Tightened Capacity

• Import volumes are surging early. Shippers are pulling forward fall and holiday cargo due to tariff uncertainty, which has pushed the June import forecast to 2.25 million TEUs. Spot rates have already risen 19% in just 60 days.
• Federal regulations are shrinking the eligible driver pool in three areas. IMC believes these regulations make our roads safer and are consistent with how we approach hiring. The English Language Proficiency enforcement is now mandatory nationwide, placing thousands of non-compliant drivers industrywide out of service. The FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL Final Rule is expected to reduce 97% of the approved work visas for the driver population, and the Clearinghouse-II rule has legally barred more than 202,000 CDL holders from operating, further tightening available capacity.

 How IMC Is Responding

 We are not sitting still. IMC is actively increasing our driver hiring efforts to grow our capacity and reduce the impact of the tighter driver pool on our customers. We are strengthening partnerships with trusted smaller carriers to expand our network where it matters most. 

We are also utilizing our operational centers nationwide to hold and store containers as needed, giving customers greater flexibility when timing is uncertain.  We encourage you to share lead time and upcoming freight calendars with your IMC representative as early as possible. 

Finally, we are prioritizing strategic, long-term customer relationships. Our commitment is to the customers who grow with us, and in a tighter capacity environment, that focus allows us to deliver more consistently for the people who have made our business successful and whom we want to continue to work with for the long term.

For our full market analysis, please visit the IMC Logistics Market Update Webpage HERE. 

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. If you have any questions, please contact your IMC Logistics Representative.