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Broker Margins Expand, Spot Market Tightens

[ May 11, 2026   //   ]

Broker margins in the U.S. spot freight market are running well above historical norms, even as competition intensifies, according to a new pricing index from Tabi Connect.

The company’s inaugural Pricing Pressure Index found awarded margins on spot loads averaging 18.3 percent, roughly five percentage points above the dataset average of 13.5 percent, indicating brokers are capturing stronger returns per load despite a more competitive quoting environment.

The report also showed spot quote volume rising 3.5 percent month over month, pointing to increasing demand and a shift of freight toward the spot market.

Tabi Connect said the combination of higher margins and rising quote activity reflects a broker-favored market, supported by improving supply-side conditions that allow intermediaries to secure freight at better economics than a year ago.

At the same time, pricing dynamics suggest competition is building. Brokers are quoting closer to market benchmarks, with average quote spreads narrowing to about 10.3 percent from 12.7 percent the prior month. That trend indicates more aggressive pricing as brokers compete for volume, even as awarded margins continue to expand.

“The market is stabilizing, yet beneath the surface, competition is intensifying,” said Ricky Gonzalez, CEO of Tabi Connect, adding that success is increasingly tied to disciplined pricing and faster response times.

The index’s four-week average continues to run above its eight-week trendline, suggesting recent margin gains are not a short-term anomaly. However, a slight uptick in the index score points to the possibility of less favorable conditions for brokers in the coming weeks.

Taken together, the data points to a market that remains profitable for brokers in the near term but is becoming more competitive, with margin performance increasingly dependent on execution rather than broad pricing power.

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