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Market Update 8.13.26

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Weather:

  • ‌Heat and Storm-Driven Disruptions: Persistent heat will remain the primary weather concern this week across much of the Central and Southern U.S., while scattered thunderstorms and localized flooding risks continue across portions of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Appalachians, and East. These conditions may cause localized freight delays and network inefficiencies, but widespread transportation disruptions are not expected (Weather.gov).

Small Parcel Updates:

  • USPS Labor Day Closure: USPS announced a full operational shutdown for Labor Day, with no regular mail delivery and limited package-processing activity on September 7. Shippers should anticipate tighter pickup windows and potential parcel flow disruptions around the holiday as carriers adjust staffing and network operations ahead of peak season preparations (USPS).

LTL Updates:

  • Regional Closure: TP Freight Lines suspended operations last week after missing payroll, leaving approximately 60 employees without work and disrupting freight service across Oregon. The shutdown removes a long-established regional carrier from the Pacific Northwest market, forcing shippers to shift freight to alternative providers and creating localized capacity pressure (KVAL13).
  • Diesel Rates: National diesel prices decreased $0.091 from last week, averaging $5.257 per gallon, $1.503 higher than the same time last year, and $1.553 higher than two years ago. The Lower Atlantic region saw the largest decrease, down $0.134 to $5.034 per gallon (U.S. EIA).

TL Updates:

  • ‌‌Market Activity: Load postings decreased 5.0% from last week while spot truck postings were up 1.0% (DAT). The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) decreased for vans, flatbeds and reefers. The FreightWaves Pricing Power Index fell 1 point to 71 last week but remains solidly in a carrier-favorable market (SONAR).
  • Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI fell to 13.05% from 13.46%, continuing the recent softening in national tender rejection rates (SONAR). Capacity has loosened across Van and Flatbed, while Reefer remains the tightest of the three modes despite declining week-over-week. The muted end-of-month impact suggests shippers are not generating enough incremental volume to materially tighten capacity, keeping the overall market relatively balanced to softened.
  • ‌Dry Van: National dry van demand decreased from last week, down 6.3% to a 10.1:1 LTR. The highest demand, with LTRs exceeding 5.5:1, is distributed across the entire U.S. (DAT VAN D&C). National dry van spot rates are down $0.05 per mile from July to $2.95, led by the Midwest and the Central South at $3.05 (DAT VAN RATES). The VOTRI declined to 13.84% from 14.43%, indicating improving truck availability and less pressure on carrier capacity (SONAR). Expect relatively favorable negotiating conditions for customers and brokers, although regional pockets can still tighten around retail and consumer freight.
  • ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand decreased from last week, down 10.8% to a 35.5:1 LTR. Elevated demand is spread across most of the U.S., with markets exceeding an 18:1 LTR, excluding DE, IA, MI, ND and RI (DAT FLAT D&C). National flatbed spot rates are down $0.05 per mile from July to $3.59, led by the Southeast at $3.90 (DAT FLAT RATES). Flatbed saw the largest relative decline, with FOTRI dropping to 15.69% from 18.03% (SONAR). The sharp decline points to improving capacity and softer demand across industrial, construction, and project freight, with the end-of-month effect failing to generate the usual tightening. Flatbed should remain relatively favorable for procurement in the near term, though localized construction and manufacturing demand could create pockets of volatility.
  • ‌Refrigerated: National reefer demand decreased from last week, down 1.1% to a 18.7:1 LTR. The strongest demand is broadly distributed across the U.S. with LTRs exceeding 12:1, excluding CT, FL, GA, LA and RI (DAT REF D&C). National reefer spot rates are down $0.06 per mile from July to $3.35, led by the Midwest at $3.65 (DAT REF RATES). Reefer remains the strongest mode at 20.12%, but it also declined from 21.72%, signaling that capacity has loosened somewhat (SONAR). Seasonal produce demand continues to provide underlying support, particularly in major produce regions, but the lack of a sustained upward trend suggests the seasonal surge is not overwhelming available capacity. Reefer should remain the most competitive mode from a capacity standpoint but still warrants more aggressive carrier engagement than Van.

International Updates:

  • ‌FBX Trends: Lane specific container rates were down globally while up in the 01 and 03 lanes from the previous week. The global FBX average decreased 1% to $3,607. The FBX01 average increased 11% from last week to $6,826, while the FBX03 increased 1% to $9,144 (FREIGHTOS).
  • ‌Port of Los Angeles: Vessels are currently averaging 3.9 days at berth. The port reported a 10.35% YOY increase in volume from 25 scheduled vessels during the week of August 9, 2026. For the week of August 16, container volumes are projected to increase 25.16% YOY, with 27 scheduled vessels expected to move approximately 164,670 TEUs (PORT SIGNAL).

Embargoes:

  • ‌Tforce
    • St. Louis, MO
    • Reno, NV
  • ‌Limited Service