Weather Updates:
- Freeze protection services are currently active in Canada, and the Northern third of the United States, East of the Rocky Mountains. For shipments containing freezable freight, please ensure freeze protection is added. Note that this may result in additional charges and possible transit delays.
- There are currently no significant severe weather risks, and no transit time or carrier impacts are expected over the weekend.
- 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. NOTE: Weather events will impact these cutoffs, and shippers should expect some minor impacts with recent storms.
- 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 end of the year.
- Diesel Rates: National diesel prices fell by $0.058 from last week, averaging $3.607 per gallon, $0.113 higher than the same time last year. The Rocky Mountain region experienced the largest decrease, down $0.113 to $3.385 per gallon.
- Market Activity: Spot load posts were down 10.4% from last week, and spot truck posts increased by 2.8%, primarily due to weather issues and the holidays ahead. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) was down for vans, flatbeds and reefers.
- Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): The OTRI is spiking sharply, following historical seasonal trendlines. We will continue to see increases leading up to Christmas, after witnessing a 2.5-point jump week over week. The OTRI currently sits at 9.93, up from last week’s 7.45 figure.
- Dry Van: National van demand decreased by 13.7% to a 8.56-1 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 $0.15 from November, averaging $2.24 nationally, with the Midwest holding the highest RPM at $2.42. VOTRI has already eclipsed the 2024 high of 8.85 points by nearly one full point. The VOTRI is at 9.76, up two and a half points from last week’s value of 7.26.
- Flatbed: National flatbed demand decreased by 5.1% to a 26.4-1 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 $0.05 from November, averaging $2.52 nationally, with the Midwest and the Southeast holding the highest RPM at $2.64. FOTRI rebounded somewhat but remains down significantly from the 15.5-point highs in November. The FOTRI increased to 12.37, up from last week’s value of 11.78.
- Reefer: National reefer demand decreased by 14.5% to a 14.69-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand in the Midwest (less MN, MO and IL) and Western states (less UT), AR and MS at over 12+ to 1 LTR. The spot RPM for reefers is up $0.07 from November, averaging $2.61 nationally, with the highest rates in the Midwest at $2.98. ROTRI is also following the pattern of previous holiday seasons. The ROTRI currently sits at 19.11, up over 3 points compared to last week’s value of 15.92. If historic trends hold true, we could see a peak nearing or exceeding 22 points a few days before Christmas.
- FBX Trends: Container rates were flat, up and down from last week with the global average cost of an FBX container flat at $1,934, and the FBX03 container average increased 8% to $3,150. The FBX01 decreased 6% from last week to $1,964.
- Port of LA: The port reported a 5.53% YOY volume decrease from 20 scheduled vessels during the week of December 14, 2025. For the week of December 21, volume is projected to decrease 37.35% YOY from 17 scheduled vessels moving 69,276 TEUs.
There are no embargoes currently impacting our freight network.