Below, please see the latest market updates from across our carrier network. Please inform, consult, and educate your customers, prospects, and teammates on current market conditions.

Weather:

• ‌Weather Risk: Heavy rain and localized flooding may disrupt freight across Texas Thursday into Friday before shifting into the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast over the weekend. Early next week, strong winds and heavier precipitation could impact the Central Plains, Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, and Great Lakes, while rain and mountain snow remain a concern across the West (Weather.gov).

Small Parcel Updates:

• UPS Expands Automation: UPS added automated capacity at four facilities, including St. Paul, MN, as part of its broader network overhaul targeting $3B in annual savings by 2028. Automated facilities now process 68.5% of U.S. volume at roughly 28% lower cost per piece, while UPS is also expanding RFID tracking and hiring 100,000 seasonal workers for peak (Freightwaves).
• UPS GRI: UPS will increase Ground, Air and International rates with an average 5.9% effective Dec. 21, matching FedEx’s planned increase. Surcharge ZIP codes and zones will be adjusted and minimum billable weight for Additional Handling packages will be increased from 40 to 50 lbs. Actual shipper impact will vary by package profile and contract, with detailed rate changes still forthcoming (UPS).

LTL Updates:

• Outbound Canada and GRI: Roadrunner launched outbound Canada-to-U.S. LTL service, providing Canadian shippers direct access to 40+ U.S. metro markets through its metro-to-metro network, designed to reduce handling and transit time. The carrier also announced a 5.9% general rate increase effective Nov. 2 on applicable base rates as it continues investing in network expansion (Transport Topics).
• Diesel Rates: National diesel prices increased $0.076 from last week, averaging $6.352 per gallon, $2.634 higher than the same time last year, and $2.779 higher than two years ago. California saw the largest decrease, down $0.087 to $8.155 per gallon (U.S. EIA).

TL Updates:

• ‌‌Market Activity: Load postings decreased 2.41% from last week and spot truck postings were up 0.94% while the Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) decreased for vans, flatbeds and reefers (DAT). The FreightWaves Pricing Power Index climbed 2 points from last week to 72, remaining in a carrier-favorable market (SONAR).
• Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI fell to 11.22 from 11.83, extending the recent downward trend in national tender rejections. (SONAR).  Notably, the usual pre-EOM spike has not materialized this month. Softer post-quarter-end freight demand and increased equipment availability appear to be offsetting typical month-end pressure, although flatbed is tightening independently.
• ‌Dry Van: National dry van demand decreased from last week, down 2.4% to a 9.5:1 LTR. The highest demand, with LTRs exceeding 20.4:1 is in OR and WA. National dry van spot rates are up $0.05 per mile from September to $3.06, led by the Midwest at $3.34 (DAT TRENDLINES). The VOTRI declined to 11.37 from 12.06, signaling continued easing in van capacity (SONAR).  Post-EOQ freight volumes have cooled, with recent data showing load postings falling while truck availability increased; this suggests month-end demand is not strong enough to create the usual capacity squeeze.
• ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand decreased from last week, down 4.0% to a 35.1:1 LTR. The highest demand, with LTRs exceeding 105.1:1, is in AL, ME, OR and WA. National flatbed spot rates are down $0.01 per mile from September to $3.61, led by the Southeast at $3.92 (DAT TRENDLINES). FOTRI rose to 18.45 from 17.36, making flatbed the only mode showing a clear increase in rejection pressure this week (SONAR). Construction, industrial and infrastructure freight can sustain demand into fall, and flatbed’s higher rejection rate suggests capacity remains more constrained even as overall market conditions soften.
• ‌Refrigerated: National reefer demand decreased from last week, down 6.9% to a 14.5:1 LTR. The strongest demand is in DE and WY at over a 45.9:1 LTR. National reefer spot rates are down $0.02 per mile from September at $3.60, led by the Midwest at $4.21 (DAT TRENDLINES). ROTRI decreased to 20.82 from 21.84, indicating some relief, though reefer remains relatively tight compared with van (SONAR).  Fall harvest and seasonal produce movements continue to support demand in select regions, but the broader post-quarter-end slowdown is helping offset that pressure.

International Updates:

• FBX Trends: Lane specific container rates were up globally and in the 01 and 03 lanes from the previous week. The global FBX average increased 5% to $3,560. The FBX01 average increased 3% from last week to $8,368 and the FBX03 increased 9% from last week to $10,565 (FREIGHTOS).
• ‌Port of Los Angeles: Vessels are currently averaging 4.6 days at berth. The port reported a 71.21% YOY increase in volume from 26 scheduled vessels during the week of October 25, 2026. For the week of November 1, container volumes are projected to increase 37.66% YOY, with 23 scheduled vessels expected to move about 130,865 TEUs (PORT SIGNAL).

Embargoes:

• There are no embargoes currently impacting our freight network