Weather Updates:

• ‌Heat and Storm-Driven Disruptions: Heat and scattered thunderstorm activity will remain the primary weather concerns this week, with localized heavy rainfall and flooding risks across portions of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic. These conditions may cause localized freight delays, while two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic continue to be monitored but are currently not forecast to impact the U.S. coastline (Weather.gov).

‌Small Parcel Updates:

• USPS Labor Day Closure: A USPS Inspector General audit identified oversight gaps within the Postal Service’s outsourced delivery network, including security-screening deficiencies, unsafe driving practices, and contractor compliance issues that could impact mail integrity and operational reliability. For time-sensitive, high-value, or business-critical shipments, shippers may want to evaluate carrier diversification strategies, including UPS and other parcel providers, to reduce reliance on a single network and mitigate potential service risks (FREIGHTWAVES Postal).

LTL Updates:

• Diesel Rates: National diesel prices increased $0.198 from last week, averaging $5.652 per gallon, $1.944 higher than the same time last year, and $2.001 higher than two years ago. California saw the largest increase, up $0.255 to $7.040 per gallon (U.S. EIA).

TL Updates:

• ‌‌Market Activity: Load postings increased 5.3% from last week while spot truck postings were up 1.4% (DAT). The Load-to-Truck Ratio (LTR) decreased for vans while flatbeds and reefers LTR increased. The FreightWaves Pricing Power Index increased 1 point to 70 this week, remaining in a carrier-favorable market (SONAR).
• Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI): OTRI edged down to 12.80% from 12.87%, keeping the market in a relatively soft and stable position (SONAR). The overall trend continues to show ample capacity, with the end-of-month impact appearing muted and not generating the typical surge in tender rejections.
• ‌Dry Van: National dry van demand decreased from last week, down 0.5% to a 9.5:1 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 $0.11 per mile from July to $2.89, led by the Midwest and the Central South at $3.04 (DAT VAN RATES).The VOTRI was essentially flat at 13.50% vs. 13.53%, indicating a stable van market with plenty of available capacity (SONAR). The lack of an EOM bump suggests shippers are not pushing enough incremental volume to materially tighten the market, keeping carrier leverage relatively limited.
• ‌Flatbed: National flatbed demand increased from last week, up 4.5% to a 34.7:1 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 $0.10 per mile from July to $3.54, led by the Southeast at $3.83 (DAT FLAT RATES). FOTRI increased to 15.29% from 13.53%, making flatbed the one mode showing meaningful tightening this week (SONAR). The move could reflect improving industrial, construction, and project freight demand, but it is still too early to call it a broader flatbed tightening cycle; localized demand is likely driving much of the increase.
• ‌Refrigerated: National reefer demand increased from last week, up 13.8% to a 20.6:1 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 $0.07 per mile from July to $3.34, led by the Midwest at $3.76 (DAT REF RATES). ROTRI declined to 21.77% from 22.25%, but reefer remains the tightest major mode by a wide margin (SONAR). Seasonal produce and food-related demand continue to provide a stronger floor for reefer rates, although the week-over-week decline suggests capacity is keeping pace with current demand.

International Updates:

• ‌FBX Trends: Lane specific container rates were down globally and up in the 01 and 03 lanes from the previous week. The global FBX average decreased 3% to $3,571. The FBX01 average increased 1% from last week to $7,491, while the FBX03 increased 2% to $9,576 (FREIGHTOS).
• ‌Port of Los Angeles: Vessels are currently averaging 3.6 days at berth. The port reported a 32.13% YOY increase in volume from 25 scheduled vessels during the week of August 23, 2026. For the week of August 30, container volumes are projected to increase 46.04% YOY, with 23 scheduled vessels expected to move approximately 133,355 TEUs (PORT SIGNAL).

Embargoes:

• ‌Tforce 
  • Limited Service
    • Reno, NV
• Oak Harbor

Phoenix, AZ