📬 Monthly Labor & Cost Pulse – June 2025

From effortless streetwear to red carpet moments, here’s what we’re obsessed with

Author

Dan Motola
June 20, 2025

📊 Key Data Points

1. Truck Transportation Employment
May 2025: 1.525 million jobs (seasonally adjusted), a slight +0.1% MoM gain but ~0.3% below May 2024 (bls.gov, bls.gov).

2. PPI – #2 Diesel Fuel
May 2025 index: 290.96 (1982=100), seasonally adjusted— down ~1.6% from April but still elevated year-over-year (fred.stlouisfed.org).

3. Transportation & Warehousing Wages
Average hourly wage: $22.45/hr (~$46.7k annual) in 2023 (bls.gov).

🧠 Key Takeaways for Operators

  1. Tight Trucking Market: Employment is flat and below last year’s level — expect stiff competition for capacity and rising spot rates.

  2. Fuel Price Cooling Off: Diesel has dipped MoM (~1.6%), practical for rate forecasting — but still above previous year’s average.

  3. Steady Wage Pressure: Wage levels in transport/warehousing remain high, signaling ongoing cost inflation in labor-intensive ops.

🚀 What This Means for You

Action

Why It Matters

Secure capacity now

Truck market isn’t loosening — better to lock in contract rates early

Update fuel surcharge models

With fuel costs now falling, your surcharge structure may need recalibrating

Review labor cost exposure

If you operate DCs or handle local freight, rising wage floor means ongoing cost pressure

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