WEEKLY MARKETFIT UPDATES: 03.02.2026: CLEVELAND, OH SHOWS STRONG WEEK-OVER-WEEK MOMENTUM WITH STEADY OUTBOUND TIGHTENING
Each week, MarketFIT™ from Express Freight Finance analyzes real-time freight market data to surface the most favorable and competitive markets across the country.
Rather than reacting to yesterday’s trends or generic load board averages, MarketFIT helps carriers and brokers make smarter decisions in the moment — from where to drive next, to how to price lanes, to when to push for stronger rates.
MarketFIT Platform Overview
With MarketFIT, Express Freight Finance clients gain access to in-depth dashboards covering 125+ U.S. markets and thousands of active freight lanes, all updated continuously to reflect real-world conditions.
If this is your first time here, watch our short overview below featuring Dan Hadley, President & CEO of Express Freight Finance, to see how MarketFIT turns raw data into actionable strategy inside your business.
What This Week’s Data Shows
Below is a snapshot of this week’s live MarketFIT data, highlighting key shifts in demand, capacity, and pricing across top U.S. freight markets.
Cleveland, OH posts a notable week-over-week improvement, with the Overall Fit Score increasing by 13.69 points to 39.24, signaling continued strengthening in local freight market conditions. The sustained upward trajectory reflects a meaningful shift in supply-demand balance, with tightening dynamics building steadily through the second half of the month.
Outbound Tender Volume stands at 173.1, compared to Inbound Tender Volume of 110.1, resulting in a Head Haul Index of 63.0. This differential positions Cleveland as a moderate headhaul market, where outbound freight demand outpaces inbound flows, though less dramatically than more imbalanced markets. The spread indicates healthy outbound activity and consistent freight generation, while the relatively stronger inbound volume provides some ongoing capacity replenishment.
The Outbound Tender Reject Index (OTRI) registers at 32.10, reflecting elevated carrier rejections and firm tightening conditions. At this level, rejection activity signals meaningful carrier selectivity, as providers increasingly decline contracted freight in favor of higher-yield opportunities. This behavior suggests mounting pressure on outbound load coverage and strengthening spot market leverage.
Overall, Cleveland is demonstrating solid outbound momentum, supported by a sharply rising Fit Score, a clear headhaul advantage, and elevated rejection levels. If current trends persist, the market is positioned for continued tightening and upward pressure on outbound spot and contract rates in the near term.
Carriers Continue To Ramp Up Profits With These Lanes:
- Chicago, IL → Detroit, MI - Avg. Rate per Mile: $3.69
- Augusta, ME → Elizabeth, NJ - Avg. Rate per Mile: $3.05
- Ontario, CA → Dallas, TX - Avg. Rate per Mile: $2.38
These lanes remain well-supported as pricing stays firm across established Midwest and Northeast freight corridors.
Load Availability & Lane Rates Intelligence
Zero in on where freight is actually moving right now — highlighting lanes with rising demand, tightening capacity, and improving rate potential.
Use this MarketFIT data to spot pockets of opportunity as they emerge, compare lanes side by side, and prioritize routes that offer the best balance of volume and pricing — before conditions shift.
Below is a snapshot of this week’s load availability and lane rate data across key markets.
You can learn more about MarketFIT and request a demo by visiting MarketFIT.
