Weather Updates:

• ‌Freeze protection services are currently active in Northern Canada. Shipments containing temperature‑sensitive freight should have a freeze protection service added. Please note that this service may incur additional charges and could impact transit times.
• ‌Severe weather disruptions from Canada to Nebraska moving East are expected to have little impact on overall transit times and service due to moving quickly through the region.

‌Small Parcel Updates:

• ‌FedEx Surcharges: FedEx implemented weekly‑adjusted fuel surcharge increases across Ground, Express, and international services, with some international lanes including a per‑pound demand surcharge due to airspace constraints and longer routings.
• USPS Surcharge Approaching: The USPS temporary 8% parcel price increase on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select, begins this coming Sunday, April 26, 2026, and goes through January 17, 2027.

LTL Updates:

• ‌Diesel Rates: National diesel prices decreased, down $0.205 from last week, averaging $5.403 per gallon, $1.869 higher than the same time last year, and $1.411 higher than two years ago. The Gulf Coast region saw the largest decrease, down $0.241 to $5.069 per gallon.
• ‌Mode Management: Over the past week, the LTL market has continued to trend toward pricing strength and operational discipline, with carriers protecting yields and absorbing modest freight shifts without reopening excess capacity. As network utilization tightens further, selective lane additions, targeted GRIs, or terminal enhancements are expected to emerge later in Q2.

TL Updates:

• ‌Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI was effectively flat this week, ticking slightly up to 13.66 from 13.65, indicating relatively stable capacity conditions across the truckload market. While overall rejection levels held steady, underlying modal shifts suggest continued rebalancing, with strength in flatbed offsetting softness in both van and refrigerated segments. The market appears to be normalizing following recent volatility, as seasonal demand patterns take hold, and capacity continues to adjust across regions and equipment types.
• ‌‌Market Activity: Spot load postings declined 5.5% from last week, while spot truck postings increased by 1.9%. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) declined for van, flatbed and reefer. Meanwhile, the FreightWaves Pricing Power Index remains stable at 65, still in a carrier-favorable market.
• ‌Dry Van: National dry van demand softened further from last week, declining 6.7% to a 7.1:1 LTR. The highest demand is broadly distributed across the U.S., excluding CA, IL, MI, ND, and NE, where LTRs exceed 5.5:1. National dry van spot rates increased $0.16 per mile from March to $2.68, led by the Midwest at $2.88. The VOTRI softened this week, down to 13.28 from 13.54 the week prior, suggesting slight easing in dry van capacity as contract compliance improves and routing guides stabilize. Despite the decline, rejection levels remain elevated enough to indicate a still-firm, but not tightening, van market.
• ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand fell this week, down 9.8% to a 73.1:1 LTR. Elevated demand is spread across most of the U.S., excluding ND, with markets exceeding an 18:1 LTR. National flatbed spot rates climbed $0.35 per mile from March to $3.44, led by the Southeast at $3.62. FOTRI bounced back after last week’s decline, up to 51.40 from 42.93 the week prior, pointing toward continued strength in industrial and construction-related freight, which is typical for this time of year. The sharp increase suggests tightening capacity in the flatbed sector as seasonal project activity ramps up.
• ‌‌‌Refrigerated: National reefer demand declined for the fifth week in a row, down 7.5% to a 12.4:1 LTR. The strongest demand is broadly distributed across the U.S., excluding CT, FL, IL, MA, MD, MN, NE, NH, and RI, where LTRs remain above 12:1. National reefer spot rates increased $0.15 per mile from March to an average of $3.13, led by the Midwest at $3.37. The Reefer Outbound Tender Rejection Index (ROTRI) declined this week, down to 15.71 from 17.16 the week prior, indicating some loosening in reefer capacity as trucks reposition into key produce regions. While seasonal demand remains a factor, the decrease suggests capacity is beginning to better align with current shipping needs.

‌International Updates:

• ‌FBX Trends: Lane specific container rates increased from the previous week, with the global FBX average increasing 1.0% to $1,899. The FBX01 average rose 7% to $2,653, while FBX03 increased 4% to $3,810.
• ‌Port of Los Angeles: Vessels are currently averaging 3.7 days at berth. The port reported a 7.86% YOY decrease in volume from 19 scheduled vessels during the week of April 19, 2026. For the week of April 26, container volumes are projected to increase 28.37% YOY, with 18 scheduled vessels expected to move approximately 110,991 TEUs.

Embargoes:

• ‌AAA Cooper terminals  

DAL, DEN, SLC, STL, MCI, MKE, MSP, MIA, FWA, SBN, OKC, ODM, ONT