The 2026 ATI Freight & Migration Trends Report compiles publicly cited 2026 data into a single shipper- and relocator-facing reference. Five findings stand out:
For media inquiries: (786) 574-5774 · rates@ship-ati.com. ATI is a US-based licensed freight broker (FMCSA) and household-goods carrier, headquartered in Florida and operating in all 48 contiguous states.
Ranked by reported per-mile spot revenue and tender volume on FreightWaves SONAR and DAT public market reports for Q1–Q2 2026. Modes: Van (dry van), Reefer (refrigerated), FB (flatbed), LTL (less-than-truckload), Dray (port drayage). Per-mile rates include linehaul plus fuel surcharge unless noted. Distances are approximate one-way over-the-road.
Public dataATI estimate where flagged[Pending Ezra feed Q3 2026]
| # | Origin → Destination | Mode | Avg $/mi | Transit (days) | Top commodity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo, TX → Chicago, IL | Van | $3.00–$3.50 | 2–3 | Cross-border auto parts, electronics |
| 2 | Laredo, TX → Dallas, TX | Van | $3.50–$3.80 | 1 | Maquiladora consumer goods |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA → Dallas, TX | Van | $2.80–$3.50 | 3–4 | Import consumer goods, apparel |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA → Chicago, IL | Van | $2.80–$3.20 | 4–5 | Imports, packaged goods |
| 5 | Charleston, SC → Charlotte, NC | Van | $2.80–$3.20 | 1 | Port imports, auto parts |
| 6 | Houston, TX → Atlanta, GA | Van | $2.80–$3.20 | 2 | Chemicals, plastics, retail |
| 7 | Tampa, FL → Nashville, TN | Reefer | $2.80–$3.20 | 2 | Produce, dairy |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA → New York, NY | Van | $2.60–$3.00 | 2–3 | Distribution, e-commerce |
| 9 | Miami, FL → New York, NY | Van | $2.60–$3.00 | 3 | Imports, electronics |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ → Denver, CO | Van | $2.80–$3.40 | 2 | Construction materials, retail |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV → Salt Lake City, UT | Van | $2.80–$3.40 | 1–2 | Retail, hospitality goods |
| 12 | El Paso, TX → Kansas City, MO | Van | $3.00–$3.60 | 2 | Border manufacturing |
| 13 | El Paso, TX → Denver, CO | Van | $3.00–$3.60 | 2 | Cross-border industrial |
| 14 | Seattle, WA → Los Angeles, CA | Van | $2.70–$3.00 | 2–3 | PacNW manufacturing, paper |
| 15 | Plant City / Immokalee, FL → NJ/NY metro | Reefer | $3.20–$3.80 | 3 | Strawberries, tomatoes (Feb–Jun) |
| 16 | Salinas, CA → Chicago, IL | Reefer | $3.00–$3.40 | 4–5 | Produce (lettuce, berries) |
| 17 | Houston, TX (Port) → Dallas, TX | Dray + Van | $3.20–$3.80 | 1 | Containers, chemicals |
| 18 | Long Beach / LA Ports → Inland Empire, CA | Dray | $450–$650 / move est. | <1 | Containers (Clean Truck Fund applies) |
| 19 | Savannah, GA (Port) → Atlanta, GA | Dray + Van | $2.80–$3.20 | 1 | Containers, retail |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA → Houston, TX | Flatbed | $3.20–$3.70 | 3 | Steel, oilfield equipment |
| 21 | Birmingham, AL → Detroit, MI | Flatbed | $3.20–$3.70 | 2–3 | Steel coils, auto |
| 22 | Chicago, IL → Atlanta, GA | LTL | $1.10–$1.45 / mi est. | 2–3 | Distribution, e-commerce |
| 23 | Dallas, TX → Los Angeles, CA | LTL | $1.10–$1.40 / mi est. | 3–4 | Mixed B2B |
| 24 | Memphis, TN → Chicago, IL | Van | $2.50–$2.90 | 2 | FedEx hub, parcel, packaged |
| 25 | Jacksonville, FL → Boston, MA | Van | $2.60–$3.00 | 3–4 | Imports, packaged goods |
Sources: DAT Trendlines, Truck Dispatch Experts Spring 2026 lane guide, O Trucking Best Dry Van Lanes 2026, Transport Topics on DAT 2-year highs. LTL per-mile equivalents and dray flat rates are ATI estimates from public broker quote sheets; [Pending Ezra feed Q3 2026] for ATI internal lane volume rankings.
Ranked by reported inbound search share, U-Haul one-way moves, and United Van Lines / Atlas published study volume for 2025–2026. Distances and transit days reflect typical ATI long-distance moving service windows.
| # | Origin → Destination | Distance (mi) | Transit (days) | Approx. avg cost (3-BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | ~1,440 | 4–7 | $5,200–$8,400 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA → Houston, TX | ~1,550 | 5–7 | $5,400–$8,700 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA → Austin, TX | ~1,750 | 5–8 | $5,800–$9,100 |
| 4 | New York, NY → Miami / Tampa, FL | ~1,280 | 4–7 | $4,900–$7,900 |
| 5 | New Jersey → Charlotte, NC | ~620 | 2–4 | $3,400–$5,800 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL → Phoenix, AZ | ~1,750 | 5–8 | $5,600–$9,000 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL → Nashville, TN | ~470 | 2–3 | $3,000–$5,200 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA → Boise, ID | ~500 | 2–3 | $3,100–$5,300 |
| 9 | Portland, OR → Boise, ID | ~430 | 2–3 | $2,900–$5,000 |
| 10 | Boston, MA → Raleigh, NC | ~720 | 3–5 | $3,600–$6,000 |
| 11 | Washington, DC → Charleston, SC | ~520 | 2–4 | $3,200–$5,400 |
| 12 | Denver, CO → Dallas, TX | ~790 | 3–5 | $3,700–$6,200 |
| 13 | San Diego, CA → Phoenix, AZ | ~360 | 2–3 | $2,800–$4,800 |
| 14 | Los Angeles, CA → Las Vegas, NV | ~270 | 1–2 | $2,400–$4,200 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN → Fort Myers, FL | ~1,750 | 5–8 | $5,800–$9,200 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI → Tampa, FL | ~1,180 | 4–6 | $4,800–$7,700 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH → Charlotte, NC | ~520 | 2–4 | $3,200–$5,400 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA → Raleigh, NC | ~400 | 2–3 | $2,900–$5,000 |
| 19 | San Jose, CA → Seattle, WA | ~820 | 3–5 | $3,800–$6,300 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA → Nashville, TN | ~250 | 1–2 | $2,300–$4,100 |
| 21 | Houston, TX → Denver, CO | ~1,030 | 4–6 | $4,400–$7,200 |
| 22 | New York, NY → Atlanta, GA | ~880 | 3–5 | $3,900–$6,500 |
| 23 | Long Island, NY → Wilmington, NC | ~620 | 2–4 | $3,400–$5,800 |
| 24 | Sacramento, CA → Boise, ID | ~510 | 2–4 | $3,100–$5,300 |
| 25 | Hartford, CT → Greenville, SC | ~880 | 3–5 | $3,900–$6,500 |
Sources: Center Square / California Census on CA→TX (~45,447 CA→TX moves in 2024), moveBuddha California search-share rankings, U-Haul Growth Index 2025, Atlas Van Lines 2025 Migration Patterns, United Van Lines 49th National Movers Study. Cost ranges are ATI estimates for 3-bedroom long-distance moves based on industry published rate cards; actual binding quote varies with date, weight, and accessorials — call (786) 574-5774 for a real number.
Three of the most-cited public studies — United Van Lines (UVL), Atlas Van Lines (Atlas), and U-Haul Growth Index (U-Haul) — converge on a clear pattern: the Southeast and Mountain West are gaining, the Northeast and high-cost Pacific coast are losing. Texas and Florida have downshifted from "magnet" to "balanced" as housing affordability normalizes the inflows.
| Rank | State | UVL inbound % | U-Haul rank | Atlas note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 64.5% | — | Tech / health-care jobs (UVL: 36% job-seeker share) |
| 2 | South Carolina | 60.8% | 5 | Inbound (UVL #2, U-Haul #5) |
| 3 | Delaware | 59.7% | — | Retirement, tax friendly |
| 4 | North Carolina | 57.8% | 3 | Inbound (Atlas top-5 Southeast) |
| 5 | West Virginia | ~55% | — | Inbound (cost of living) |
| 6 | Minnesota | ~55% | — | Inbound (UVL top-tier) |
| 7 | Idaho | — | 8 | #1 inbound search ratio 2026 (moveBuddha 2.05:1) |
| 8 | Tennessee | ~54% | 4 | Inbound (Nashville magnet) |
| 9 | Arkansas | — | — | Atlas #1 inbound (Bentonville/Walmart HQ 38%) |
| 10 | Alabama | — | 9 | Inbound (Atlas Southeast top tier) |
| Rank | State | UVL outbound % | Years on UVL outbound list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 62% | 8 consecutive | Cost-of-living, taxes; improved from 67% prior year |
| 2 | New York | ~58% | multi-year | Cost-of-living, taxes |
| 3 | California | ~56% | multi-year | Housing, cost of living, taxes |
| 4 | Louisiana | — | Atlas #1 outbound 2 yrs | 66% outbound (Atlas); insurance, jobs |
| 5 | Illinois | ~55% | multi-year | Now "balanced" on Atlas (2026 shift) |
| 6 | Massachusetts | ~54% | multi-year | Housing cost |
| 7 | Michigan | ~53% | multi-year | Industrial decline, weather |
| 8 | Kansas | ~52% | recurring | Rural job loss |
| 9 | Wyoming | — | Atlas top outbound | Great Plains outbound cluster |
| 10 | South Dakota | — | Atlas top outbound | Sioux Falls leads outbound metro |
What a map would show: A clear "outbound red" band across the Northeast (NJ, NY, MA, CT) and high-cost Pacific (CA, WA-tier-2), with "inbound green" concentrated across the Southeast (SC, NC, TN, AL, AR), Mountain West (ID, MT, AZ, NM), and a smaller pocket in Oregon and Delaware. Louisiana is the lone deep-South outbound outlier.
Sources: United Van Lines 49th National Movers Study (PRNewswire release), Atlas Van Lines 2025 Migration Patterns Study, U-Haul Growth Index 2025, moveBuddha 2026 Moving Trends.
| Mode | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | YoY direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.00 | $2.52 | $2.68 | Up sharply (~30%+ Feb→Apr) |
| Reefer | $2.38 | $2.97 | $3.12 | Up sharply (produce season) |
| Flatbed | $2.33 | $3.09 | $3.46 | Up sharply (construction) |
Source: DAT iQ national averages via Dynamic Logistix, DAT Press: "Spot rates post seventh straight monthly gain", Transport Topics: "DAT truckload spot rates hit 2-year highs".
C.H. Robinson's 2026 LTL outlook notes carriers are dealing with higher costs, more complex freight profiles, and uneven regional volumes, which means shippers should expect pricing to stay firm through 2026 even as macro shipment volume softens. ATI sees per-mile LTL equivalents at $1.10–$1.45 on dense corridors (Chicago–Atlanta, Dallas–LA). Source: C.H. Robinson Key Truckload & LTL Trends for 2026.
LA/LB is the most expensive drayage market in the US, driven by CARB compliance, zero-emission mandates, chronic chassis shortages, and the PierPASS Traffic Mitigation Fee. The 2026 Clean Truck Fund Rate adds $10 per loaded TEU (and $20 for larger containers) on every conventional drayage move. Source: Book Your Cargo: LA / Long Beach Drayage 2026.
National on-highway diesel hit $5.64/gal the week ending May 4, 2026 — one of the highest readings of the year. California was the most expensive market at $7.36/gal; Gulf Coast cheapest at $5.18. With diesel at this level, standard FSC tables run $0.42–$0.55 per loaded mile. Source: EIA Weekly On-Highway Diesel Status Report, O Trucking 2026 FSC tables.
The BLS Producer Price Index for General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance Truckload was 210.086 in April 2026 (Dec 2003 = 100). The April 2026 PPI release flagged an 8.1% increase in prices for truck transportation of freight as a major contributor to overall intermediate-demand price changes — meaning trucking is now a measurable PPI driver, not a follower. Source: FRED: BLS PPI for General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance Truckload, BLS PPI Apr 2026 release.
Cass shipments fell 7.1% y/y in January 2026 and 4.5% y/y in March, but the expenditures component rose 4.2% y/y in March — classic late-cycle pattern where volume is soft and rates are climbing simultaneously. Capacity exit and selective demand are the drivers. Source: Cass Transportation Index Report March 2026, Cass January 2026, FRED Cass Shipments series.
Available Trade International (ATI) is a US-based licensed freight broker and household-goods carrier (FMCSA), headquartered in Florida and operating in all 48 contiguous states. ATI runs freight in every major mode — dry van, reefer, flatbed, LTL, drayage, intermodal, and air — and long-distance household relocations, with binding rates, real-time GPS tracking, and 24/7 dispatch on every load.
For a binding 2026 freight or moving quote, call (786) 574-5774, email rates@ship-ati.com, or use the ATI instant quote tool. The freight class calculator is free and unlimited.
Press / data inquiries: rates@ship-ati.com or (786) 574-5774. ATI is happy to provide expert commentary on freight rate movement, port drayage policy, household migration trends, and 2026 supply-chain capacity.
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