Weather Updates:

• Freeze protection services are currently active in Canada, the Ohio Valley and New England. For shipments containing freezable freight, please ensure freeze protection is added. Note that this may result in additional charges and possible transit delays.
• Winter weather hit the Midwest and New England this week, which will impact transit times in and out of the regions. Currently, there are no additional weather events in the forecast for the weekend.

Small Parcel Updates:

• Facility Restructuring: UPS’s cuts at its Montgomery, Alabama facility are part of a broader nationwide restructuring. The company plans to lay off about 130 workers there starting February 23, 2026, according to a state WARN notice.
• USPS Rate Increases: USPS shipping rates for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select are set to increase on January 18, 2026. The hikes will raise prices by about 5–8% depending on the service, while the First-Class Mail stamp will remain at 78 cents until at least mid-2026.
• USPS Postmark Date Change: USPS’s new postmark rule, effective December 24, 2025, means postmarks will now reflect the date mail is first processed at a sorting facility rather than when it is dropped at a post office or collection box, so the postmark date may be later than the actual mailing date.

LTL Updates:

• Carrier Closure: Midwest LTL carrier Standard Forwarding Freight ceased operations effective December 29, 2025, less than a year after DHL Freight sold the 91-year-old carrier to a holding company. The East Moline, Illinois-based company operated 14 terminals across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• LTL Rate Forecast: LTL contract rate forecasts softened further from last month, now pointing to a 1.6% YOY increase for 2025. The 2026 outlook increased marginally, with rates projected to rise 2.8% YOY, up from the previously reported 2.7%.
• Holiday Transit Times: During the holiday seasons transit times slow down as freight surges, winter weather hits, and terminals run on shortened holiday schedules. Shippers remember to build in extra days and expect more variability in delivery performance through the start of 2026.
• Diesel Rates: National diesel prices fell by $0.044 from last week, down five weeks in a row, averaging $3.500 per gallon, $0.003 lower than the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain region experienced the largest decrease, down $0.071 to $3.233 per gallon.

TL Updates:

• Market Activity: Spot load posts were down 58.0% from last week, and spot truck posts decreased by 37.8%, primarily due to the holidays. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) was down for vans, flatbeds and reefers.
• Rate Forecast: Spot rate forecasts show a 3.6% YOY increase for 2026, supported by shifts in van capacity and strengthened refrigerated movements. Contract rate expectations are showing a 2.0% increase for 2026, and the total truck rate outlook is showing a 2.5% YOY increase for 2026.
• Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): The OTRI finally retreated after hitting a peak of 12.19 on Christmas Eve.  The OTRI currently sits at 10.02, down nearly two points from last week’s 11.99 figure. 
• ‌‌Dry Van: National van demand decreased by 36.9% to a 6.23-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand spread across most the United States, other than Northern New England, CA, IL, IN, MD, MI, NE, NH, OK, PA, and WI, exceeding 5.5+ to 1 LTR. The spot rate per mile (RPM) for dry vans is up $0.20 from November, averaging $2.29 nationally, with the Midwest holding the highest RPM at $2.56. VOTRI hit a 3-year peak of 11.72 before Christmas but has since shown signs of decline. The VOTRI is at 10.51, down one point from last week’s value of 11.53. 
• Dry Van Rate Forecast: 2026 loadings are projected to decline 0.2% YOY due to weaker outlooks in organics and paper. The 2026 dry van spot rate forecast shows a 3.9% increase, while total truck rates show a 2.3% YOY increase excluding fuel. The 2025 dry van total truck rate finished last month, at a 0.8% YOY increase.
• ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand decreased by 41.4% to 18.63-1 LTR, with the highest demand in the Northwest, the Southeast, Central New England, CO, MN, MT, ND, SD, UT and WV at over 18+ to 1 LTR. The flatbed spot RPM is up $0.06 from November, averaging $2.53 nationally, with the Midwest holding the highest RPM at $2.71. FOTRI took a sharp swing downwards after massive gains in the previous week.  The FOTRI decreased to 17.84, down significantly from last week’s value of 21.96.
• Flatbed Rate Forecast: The 2026 loadings outlook weakened from a 0.3% decrease to a 0.9% YOY decrease. The 2026 flatbed spot rate forecast shows a 2.2% increase, while total truck rates show a 2.1% YOY increase excluding fuel. The 2025 flatbed total truck rate finished last month, at a 2.1% YOY increase.
• ‌‌Reefer: National reefer demand decreased by 16.7% to a 14.31-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand in AR, MS, the Midwest other than KS, IL, MN, MO and Western states at over 12+ to 1 LTR. The spot RPM for reefers is up $0.14 from November, averaging $2.68 nationally, with the highest rates in the Midwest at $3.11. ROTRI has started to decrease, though it remains elevated post-holiday, partially buoyed by freeze-protect requirements. The ROTRI currently sits at 21.59, down 1.5 points compared to last week’s value of 23.09.
• ‌Reefer Rate Forecast: The 2026 reefer loadings outlook declined from last month from 1.0% to a 0.8% YOY increase. However, levels will remain flat over the course of the year. The 2026 reefer spot rate forecast shows a 5.8% increase, while total truck rates show a 3.9% YOY increase excluding fuel. The 2025 reefer total truck rate finished last month, at a 1.1% YOY increase.

International Updates:

• FBX Trends: Container rates were up from last week with the global average cost of an FBX container up 3% to $2,131, and the FBX01 container average increased 1% to $2,145. The FBX03 increased 10% from last week to $3,364.
• Port of LA: The port reported a 13.09% YOY volume increase from 20 scheduled vessels during the week of December 28, 2025. For the week of January 4, 2026, volume is projected to increase 11.00% YOY from 21 scheduled vessels moving 119,641 TEUs.

Embargoes:

There are no embargoes currently impacting our freight network.