Weather Updates: 

• Freeze protection services are currently active in Alaska, Canada, East of the Rockies through Colorado to Minnesota, and the New England market. For shipments containing freezable freight, please ensure to add freeze protection service. Please note that this service brings additional charges and transit delays.
• A strong Arctic outbreak driving frigid air into U.S. is delivering heavy snow and blizzard conditions from the Rockies through the Upper Midwest and into parts of the Northeast. Many markets are under winter storm warnings for widespread 6–20 inches of snow (locally up to 2 feet in higher terrain) and wind gusts of 40–60 mph, with some exposed mountain areas seeing 70–100 mph gusts creating whiteout and near-zero visibility.

Small Parcel Updates:

• USPS Ground Saver Returns: UPS and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) have renewed their Ground Saver deal, with USPS scheduled to begin making Ground Saver deliveries this week. Under the new agreement, USPS will handle last‑mile delivery for some UPS Ground Saver and Mail Innovations packages again, restoring broader coverage, including Alaska, Hawaii, and PO Boxes.

LTL Updates: 

• Diesel Rates: National diesel prices increased, up $0.023 from last week, averaging $3.711 per gallon, $0.034 higher than the same time last year, still $0.398 lower than two years ago. The New England region was the only one to experience a decrease, down $0.021 to $4.215 per gallon.
• Estes Acquisition: Estes Logistics, a division of Estes Express Lines, has expanded its dedicated transportation and freight capabilities across Western Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest with the acquisition of Key Trucking out of Kent, WA. Estes operates a nationwide LTL network of over 13,000 terminal doors and a fleet of more than 10,500 tractors hauling tens of thousands of trailers, giving customers in the WA region access to a significantly larger asset base and network reach.
• New Daylight Coverage: Daylight Transport is opening a new Austin/San Antonio service center to expand its Texas footprint and enhance regional LTL coverage in the fast-growing I‑35 corridor. It is also launching new lanes from Atlanta to Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, further strengthening its long-haul network and providing faster, more reliable service between the Southeast and key Midwestern markets.

‌Truckload Updates: 

• Market Activity: Spot load posts were down 10% from last week, and spot truck posts decreased 4.4%. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) was down for vans and reefers, while up for flatbeds for the second week in a row.
• Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI remains stable near its Friday, February 6 peak of 13.75, currently reading 13.60. This reflects only a minimal uptick from last week’s 13.53 level.
• Dry Van: National van demand decreased by 8.4% to a 9.33-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand spread across the United States, other than CA and IL, exceeding 5.5+ to 1 LTR. The spot rate per mile (RPM) for dry vans is up $0.11 from January, averaging $2.43 nationally, with the Midwest holding the highest RPM at $2.76. The VOTRI continues to stay elevated and remains unseasonably high, currently sitting at 13.94 compared to last week’s value of 13.58.
• Flatbed: National flatbed demand increased by 12.9% to 55.24-1 LTR, with the highest demand spread across the United States, other than RI at over 18+ to 1 LTR. The flatbed spot RPM is up $0.11 from January, averaging $2.70 nationally, with the Midwest region holding the highest RPM at $2.91. The FOTRI continues to surge, sharply increasing to 27.22 compared to last week’s value of 22.59.
• Reefer: National reefer demand decreased by 25.6% to a 16.68-1 LTR nationally, with the highest demand spread across the United States, other than CT, IL, MD, and RI at over 12+ to 1 LTR. The sport RPM for reefers is up $0.11 from January, averaging $2.92 nationally, with the highest rates in the Midwest at $3.35. The ROTRI continues to hold high, currently sitting at 22.16 compared to last week’s value of 22.24.

International Updates: 

• FBX Trends: Container rates were down from last week with the global average cost of an FBX container down 5% to $1,937, FBX01 container average down 2% to $1,883 and FBX03 down 12% to $3,046.
• Port of Los Angeles: Currently vessels are averaging 4 days at berth with the port reporting a 14.45% YOY volume decrease from 20 scheduled vessels during the week of February 15, 2026. For the week of February 22, container volumes are projected to increase 39.81% YOY from 21 scheduled vessels moving 116,557 TEUs.

Embargoes: 

Dayton Freight: IB/OB Hermantown, MN (DUL)