Join the President of Tallgrass Freight, Sean Richardson, as he shares insights on the freight market, reflects on lessons learned from the past year, and looks ahead to what agents and customers can expect as 2026 unfolds.
As we head into the first quarter of 2026, I’m both reflective and optimistic. The freight market is always evolving. While uncertainty is normal in this industry, one thing you can count on is this: freight doesn’t stop, and neither do the people who are committed to doing it the right way.
Let’s take a look at what defined 2025, what we’re paying close attention to now — and how agents can position themselves for success in the months ahead.
A Look Back at Key Trends from 2025
When I look back on 2025, three things really stand out to me. The first is theft and fraud. This wasn’t a new problem, but it certainly didn’t slow down. If anything, it became more sophisticated. We saw scams in which people posed as carriers, drivers, and even customers, and the financial impact across the industry has been massive. At Tallgrass, we took that seriously. We invested in stronger tools, stronger visibility and stronger processes, so our agents could feel confident about who they’re working with. While it’s impossible to entirely eliminate all risks, you can give yourself the best chance possible by doing your due diligence.
The second key trend we noticed in 2025 was uncertainty surrounding tariffs. Tariffs created a lot of question marks for shippers. When there’s uncertainty about costs or timing, inventory decisions become more difficult. We saw waves of inbound freight as customers tried to get ahead of potential changes. That created some busy stretches throughout the year, especially for agents who stayed close to their customers and communicated proactively.
Lastly, there was increased scrutiny on CDL compliance in 2025. Towards the back half of the year, we saw a real crackdown on unqualified drivers and revoked CDLs. This can be a polarizing subject, but safety matters. Liability matters. And this reset is already pulling capacity out of the market, so we’ll continue to feel the effects as we move into 2026.
What We’re Watching in 2026
As we embark on 2026, we can’t predict the future — but we can keep our eye on market trends. Here’s what we’re keeping an eye on in 2026.
Technology expectations are rising
We live in a world where I can track my pizza delivery from the restaurant all the way to my house. Yet in freight, it’s still common for a shipment worth $100,000 or more to disappear into a black hole once it’s loaded. You don’t see it again until it shows up, and that’s hard to wrap my head around. GPS tracking still isn’t universal in our industry, and that can create risk, frustration,and uncertainty for shippers.
Tracking will eventually become a basic expectation. From our side, that means continuing to invest in technology that gives agents and customers better visibility into their freight. The more eyes you have on a shipment, the fewer surprises you have, and that’s better for everyone involved.
AI is no longer a “someday” conversation
AI is here, and it’s not slowing down. You can fight it, or you can figure out how to use it to its full advantage. While I don’t anticipate AI fully replacing the human side of freight, I do think we can harness this technology to make us better at what we already do.
For instance, if AI can help eliminate manual work, cut down on mistakes or help agents see trends they might’ve otherwise missed, that’s positive. If AI can give agents time back in their day and help them make better decisions, then that’s something worth leaning into. And as the technology continues to improve, we’ll keep looking at where it makes the most sense to implement AI.
Supply and demand are shifting
With more scrutiny around drivers and freight volumes staying strong, trucks are going to be harder to find. When that happens, we will see rates go up. That’s simply how the laws of supply and demand work.
For agents, that means being proactive with customers and having honest conversations before the market tightens further. No one likes surprises when it comes to freight costs. When you communicate early and set expectations, you’ll protect those hard-earned relationships and margins when things get tight.
Setting Yourself Up for a Strong Year
Gratitude, planning and mindset: these are the building blocks of success in 2026. We may be moving freight, but we’re ultimately working with people. To be successful, reach out to your customers. Thank them for the business. Strong relationships matter, especially in markets like this one.
You also need to have a plan. What are you trying to accomplish this year? Once you know that, break it down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and even daily goals. The most successful agents I know aren’t guessing. They know their numbers, and they know what effort it takes to hit their goals.
And with that comes protecting your mindset. Freight will punch you in the face from time to time. Bad loads happen. Deals fall apart. Don’t let one tough moment derail your momentum. The only two things you can always control are your attitude and your effort. If you stay consistent with those, the results will follow.
Building Excitement for What’s Next
I’m genuinely excited about what’s to come this year. Technology is going to continue changing the landscape of this industry, but in a good way. As those tools improve, they give agents back time. That’s more time to grow, more time to focus on your customers and more time to work on your business instead of getting buried in the day-to-day minutiae. It’s not a question of if we’ll implement new things. It’s when, and how much value we can create from them.
Beyond tech, one of our biggest priorities is helping agents expand their skill sets and their share of each customer’s supply chain. I want Tallgrass to be a place where freight agents can say, “When I first got here, I was a truckload broker, and now I know how to handle LTL, parcel, warehousing and beyond.” That education matters. When agents understand different modes and how to sell them, they’re no longer a one-trick pony. They become a bigger, more trusted part of their customers’ operation, and that makes those relationships stick.
What excites me most, as it always has, is our people. Every year, our agents do some incredible things. And our leadership team’s role is simple: remove obstacles, offer support and help when needed. The wins belong to the freight agents. I’m always excited to see who the next Tallgrass Rookie of the Year will be, or who’s going to come in and make an impact (and not just on the business, but on the people around them). I hope that when I share my Q1 2027 update next year, I get to say that we set aggressive goals, we stayed focused and we achieved them.
Why It’s a Great Time to Join Tallgrass
For anyone thinking about becoming an independent freight agent with Tallgrass, there’s always a right time to bet on yourself. The best time to do it was yesterday. And the second-best time to do it is today.
Tallgrass gives agents the freedom to run their own businesses, backed by the infrastructure, technology and support to make it happen. It’s real flexibility and uncapped earning potential, where you can make life-changing money for yourself and for your family.
There’s no better time than now to start that journey. If you’re even simply curious about joining our independent freight agent network, let’s have the conversation. Let us show you what this actually looks like, what’s available to you, and what’s possible when you decide to bet on yourself. Reach out to our team to start the conversation today.