Canada and Mexico: Economic Trends and Implications for North American Freight Workshop

Date: August 19, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Registration Fee: $699 

Location: ACT Research Office - 4440 Middle Road, Columbus,  IN 47203

Lunch will be provided.

Key Topics:

• Growing integration of the North American economies and impact on trucking/freight
• Recent economic developments of the Canadian and Mexican economies
• US–Canada and US–Mexico trade flows
• Nearshoring and Mexico’s role in manufacturing supply chains
• Update on Mexico's trailer market
• Key macro drivers of Canadian freight activity
• Cross-border trucking and capacity considerations

What You Will Gain:

By participating in this workshop, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of:

• How Canada and Mexico connect to US demand and the broader North American economy
• What is driving economic activity in each country—and how those drivers differ
• How economic trends translate into cross-border trade and freight outcomes
• Which indicators matter most for tracking changes in freight demand, rates, and capacity
• How evolving trade patterns and supply chain shifts may impact future transportation markets

Who Will Benefit the Most:

This workshop is designed for professionals responsible for navigating the complexities of North American transportation, trade, and supply chain activity, including:

• Supply chain and logistics executives managing North American operations
• Fleet operators and capacity planners
• Equipment manufacturers and dealers
• Financial analysts covering the transportation sector
• Economists and strategists focused on North American trade trends

As North American supply chains continue to evolve, understanding the economic forces shaping Canada and Mexico is becoming increasingly critical for transportation, freight, and logistics leaders. Trade relationships are shifting. Manufacturing footprints are moving. Capacity dynamics are changing across borders. The question is no longer if these developments will impact freight markets—but how quickly and to what extent.

This interactive workshop brings together ACT Research analysts and industry experts to examine how economic trends in Canada and Mexico are influencing the broader North American freight environment. Through a combination of macroeconomic analysis, trade insights, and freight market intelligence, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how economic conditions move across borders and ultimately affect transportation demand, capacity, and equipment markets.

The session begins with a high-level view of the growing integration between the US, Canadian, and Mexican economies. From GDP growth and monetary policy to trade flows, currency movements, and the long-term evolution from NAFTA to USMCA, the workshop will explore the major forces reshaping North American commerce and supply chain strategy.

The discussion then transitions into focused deep dives on Mexico and Canada.

Mexico’s session will examine the country’s expanding role in manufacturing supply chains, the acceleration of nearshoring activity, and the implications for cross-border trucking and trailer demand. Attendees will also receive an update on Mexico’s trailer market, including current demand trends and market outlook.

Canada’s session will explore the economic drivers shaping freight activity north of the border, including consumer spending, housing, manufacturing cycles, and commodity exposure. The discussion will also examine freight rate trends, truck border crossings, and capacity considerations across the US–Canada corridor.

Throughout the workshop, speakers will connect economic developments directly to freight market outcomes—helping attendees better understand which indicators matter most and how to interpret changes in demand, rates, and capacity across North America.

Speakers: 

• David Teolis / Chief Economist at ACT Research

• Jennifer McNealy / Director, Research Analyst and Publications at ACT Research

• Jorge Garcia / Mexican Market Analyst  at ACT Research

• Carter Vieth / Research Analyst at ACT Research

• Tim Denoyer / Vice President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research