Navigating a Turbulent Freight Market

David Spencer discusses how markets, contract rates, and AI signals reveal the hidden rhythms of freight cycles this year. This week's episode is sponsored by Epay Manager, CloneOps.ai, and Rapido Solutions Group. Interested in sponsoring our podcast? Send us an email at pbj@freightcaviar.com. 4:30 December 2025: Weather, Holidays, and Sudden Tightness 9:20 Capacity Is Leaving — And Why It’s Not Coming Back Fast 14:00 Imports, Tariffs, and the Demand Problem 18:00 Spot vs Contract Rates as the Key Market Signal 22:30 Why 2025 Didn’t Flip the Market 27:00 Carrier Behavior During Volatility 32:00 What Would Actually Trigger a 2026 Disruption 37:30 Why Weather Matters More Than Most Data 42:00 The 2026 Outlook: Volatility Without a Full Turn 56:10 Is the Freight Recession Actually Ending?