Weather Updates:

• ‌The Atlantic hurricane season starts next week and runs from June through November. The 2026 season is expected to have a below-average number of storms this season. For more information on how to be Hurricane ready go to NOAA Hurricane Preparedness Week.

‌Small Parcel Updates:

• ‌DHL Teams Up with USPS: DHL eCommerce signed a $10B+ exclusive, long-term agreement with USPS, formalizing a model where DHL manages pickup, sortation, and linehaul while fully leveraging USPS for last-mile delivery. The agreement concentrates incremental parcel volume into the USPS network and reinforces asset-light growth strategies, increasing competitive pressure on UPS and FedEx without adding new last-mile capacity.

LTL Updates:

• ‌Saia Expands: LTL carrier Saia opened new terminals in Marysville, WA, and Edinburgh, IN, expanding capacity in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. The additions are designed to improve routing efficiency, reduce transit variability, and strengthen service density in strategic freight lanes.
• ‌Averitt Future Proofing: Averitt is replacing two smaller facilities with large regional service campuses in Charlotte, NC, and Louisville, KY, expanding capacity through major cross-dock, warehousing, and workforce investments in key freight hubs identified as future network pinch points.
• ‌Diesel Rates: National diesel prices decreased $0.073 from last week, averaging $5.523 per gallon, $2.036 higher than the same time last year, and $1.765 higher than two years ago. The Midwest region saw the largest decrease, down $0.126 to $5.623 per gallon.

TL Updates:

• ‌Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI eased this week, declining to 15.73 from 16.29, though overall rejection levels remain elevated and continue to signal a tight truckload environment. The slight pullback was driven by softer van and flatbed rejection activity following the Memorial Day push, while refrigerated rejections continued to rise as produce season intensified. Despite the weekly decline, end-of-month shipping activity and seasonal freight demand are continuing to support tighter-than-normal capacity conditions.
• ‌Market Activity: Spot load postings decreased 5.6% from last week, while spot truck postings increased by 9.1%. The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) decreased for vans, flatbeds and reefers primarily due to truck availability returning after Roadcheck week. The FreightWaves Pricing Power Index is holding at 70, in a carrier-favorable market, with a three-month outlook of 75.
• ‌Dry Van: National dry van demand decreased from last week, down 11.2% to a 11.5:1 LTR. The highest demand with LTRs exceeding 5.5:1 is broadly distributed across the U.S., excluding the Midwest, CA, NH and RI. National dry van spot rates are up $0.18 per mile from April to $2.85, led by the Midwest at $2.94. The VOTRI is down to 16.39 from 16.98 the week prior, indicating slight easing in dry van capacity following the Memorial Day holiday surge. While some post-holiday normalization is occurring, elevated rejection levels still suggest carriers remain selective as end-of-month freight volumes move through the network.
• ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand decreased this week, down 21.1% to a 68.8:1 LTR. Elevated demand is spread across most of the U.S., excluding ND, with markets exceeding an 18:1 LTR. National flatbed spot rates are up $0.20 per mile from April to $3.64, led by the Southeast at $3.90. FOTRI decreased to 35.96 from 38.44 the week prior, signaling modest loosening in flatbed capacity after recent tightening. The decline may reflect some stabilization following heavy seasonal construction and industrial shipping activity earlier in the month.
• ‌Refrigerated: National reefer demand decreased from last week, down 20.3% to a 21.5:1 LTR. The strongest demand is broadly distributed across the U.S. with LTRs exceeding 12:1, excluding the Great Lakes region, KS, KY, MT, NE, New England (less VT and ME), NV and WA. National reefer spot rates are up $0.22 per mile from April to an average of $3.34, led by the South at $3.50. The ROTRI is up to 21.89 from 20.58 the week prior, reflecting continued tightening in reefer capacity as produce season ramps further across key agricultural regions. Strong seasonal produce demand, combined with tighter truck availability following the holiday weekend, continues to place upward pressure on refrigerated networks.

‌International Updates:

• ‌FBX Trends: Lane specific container rates were up globally and in the 01 and 03 lanes from the previous week. The global FBX average increased 10% to $2,197. The FBX01 average increased 13% to $3,181, while the FBX03 increased 14% to $4,865. ‌
• ‌Port of Los Angeles: Vessels are currently averaging 3.8 days at berth. The port reported a 56.99% YOY increase in volume from 19 scheduled vessels during the week of May 24, 2026. For the week of May 31, container volumes are projected to decrease 0.44% YOY, with 21 scheduled vessels expected to move approximately 100,102 TEUs.

Embargoes:

• ‌AAA Cooper

‌STL terminal