ArcBest and its less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier ABF Freight announced a general rate increase of approximately 5.9% on June 8. The new LTL rates and charges take effect on June 22, 2026. The company said the effect on specific lanes and shipments may vary, and that the updated rates will be available on arcb.com on or before the effective date.
The timing is unusual. Trucking Dive, which called the second-quarter announcement atypical, noted that the company’s last general rate increase was also 5.9% and came in August 2025. That puts this increase roughly ten months after the previous one.
The increase comes as freight on ABF’s network gets heavier. According to Trucking Dive, tonnage in the company’s asset-based segment, which includes ABF Freight, was up 5% year over year even though shipments per day were down 2%. ArcBest is also projecting a larger-than-usual improvement in its operating ratio from the first quarter to the second. In an April earnings call, CEO Seth Runser said core LTL pricing continues to improve and described the market as rational, Trucking Dive reported.
What it means for shippers
- Find out which of your rates are affected. A general rate increase usually applies to a carrier’s standard tariff pricing, while contract pricing is reviewed on its own schedule. Ask your carrier or broker which applies to your account.
- 5.9% is an average, not your number. The company says the effect varies by lane and shipment. Re-rate your most frequent lanes after June 22 rather than adding a flat percentage to last month’s invoices.
- Look at the whole invoice. The base rate is only part of an LTL bill. Fuel surcharges and accessorial charges such as liftgate, residential and limited-access delivery are billed on top of it. Review how often you pay them and whether they can be avoided with better delivery information.
- Do not assume the calendar. An increase in June, less than a year after the last one, is a reminder that rate changes do not always wait for the fall. Leave room in the freight budget for mid-year adjustments.
One carrier’s announcement does not set the market, and other LTL carriers make their own pricing decisions. Shippers who quote each shipment and compare options are in a better position than those who rely on a single price list.
Go Trucking Services handles LTL and FTL land transport locally in Greater Los Angeles and nationwide, including deliveries that need a lift gate. See land transport or request a quote on the home page.
Sources:
- ArcBest: ArcBest and ABF Freight Will Revise LTL Rates
- Trucking Dive: ArcBest, ABF Freight announce 5.9% rate increase
Image: formulanone, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
