Weather Updates:
- Freeze protection services are currently active in Alaska, Western Canada, and parts of Midwest from Montana down to Colorado and up to Minnesota. For shipments containing freezable freight, please ensure freeze protection is added. Note that this may result in additional charges and possible transit delays.
- There is currently a winter storm warning in effect for the Midwest, with rain changing to heavy snow at rates of more than 1 inch per hour and winds gusting up to 45 mph. Transit time delays are expected through the weekend due to this storm and the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Canada Post Issues: Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers reached agreements in principle for both bargaining units, suspending all strike and lockout activity pending ratification. Operations are stabilizing, but Canada Post remains has ground to recover as shippers continue relying on private carriers.
- UPS Christmas Cutoffs: The busiest parcel shipping season is starting and to ensure UPS packages arrive by Christmas in 2025, ship by December 19 for 3 Day Select, December 22 for 2nd Day Air, and December 23 for Next Day Air; Ground service deadline varies by location and should be verified for your shipping route.
- Holiday Transit Times: During the holiday seasons in LTL, one thing is consistent: 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 during the tight window between Thanksgiving and late December.
- Diesel Rates: National diesel prices fell by $0.037 from last week, averaging $3.831 per gallon, $0.292 higher than the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain region experienced the largest decrease, down $0.090 to $3.723 per gallon.
- Market Activity: Spot load posts are up 19.6% from last week, and spot truck posts increased by 0.2%. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) was up for vans, flatbeds and reefers.
- Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): The OTRI is fully showing the effects of the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, with all modes reflecting gains. The OTRI currently sits at 6.79, up from last week’s 6.15.
- Dry Van: National van demand increased by 24.2% to a 6.41-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand spread across most the United States, other than CA, IL, MI, NE, NH, OK and TN, exceeding 5.5+ to 1 LTR. The spot rate per mile (RPM) for dry vans is up $0.02 from October, averaging $2.08 nationally, with the Midwest holding the highest RPM at $2.28. VOTRI increased by ½ a point this week. The VOTRI is at 6.35, up from last week’s value of 5.86.
- Flatbed: National flatbed demand increased by 26.1% to a 22.18-1 LTR, with the highest demand in the Northwest, the Southeast, Upper New England, IN, MN, MT and SD at over 18+ to 1 LTR. The flatbed spot RPM is down $0.03 from October, averaging $2.48 nationally, with the Southeast holding the highest RPM at $2.62. FOTRI increased by over ½ a point on the week. The FOTRI jumped to 13.75, up from last week’s value of 13.13.
- Reefer: National reefer demand increased by 8.1% to a 12.29-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand in the Midwest and Northwestern states, AR, CO, IN, ME, MI, MS, MT, NM, WV and lower New England at over 12+ to 1 LTR. The spot RPM for reefers is up $0.05 from October, averaging $2.53 nationally, with the highest rates in the Midwest at $2.88. ROTRI recovered the losses from the previous two weeks. The ROTRI currently sits at 15.58, up two full points compared to last week’s value of 13.59.
- FBX Trends: Container rates were all down from last week with the average cost of an FBX01 container down 32% to $1,903, and the FBX global container average decreasing 11% to $1,938. The FBX03 decreased 8% from last week to $3,443.
- Port of LA: The port reported an 18.87% YOY volume increase from 23 scheduled vessels during the week of November 23, 2025. For the week of November 30, volume is projected to decrease 15.59% YOY from 18 scheduled vessels moving 91,302 TEUs.
There are no embargoes currently impacting our freight network.