BORDERLANDS: VOLATILE TRADE, RISING CARRIER COSTS ARE RESHAPING RETAIL SHIPPING STRATEGIES
Retailers are diversifying carriers and leaning on automation as tariffs and carrier costs pressure margins; Cainiao launches a U.S.–Mexico cross‑border service and Speedora debuts white‑glove final‑mile in Arizona.
SPOT‑CONTRACT RATE GAP COLLAPSES TO NEAR FOUR‑YEAR LOW
A holiday surge pushed spot rates up relative to contracts, signaling a more fragile truckload market and raising questions about the durability of 2026 bid rates.
TRUCKING RATES HAVE LAGGED CPI BY ABOUT 27% SINCE 2020
FreightWaves analysis shows spot rates haven’t kept pace with inflation, squeezing carrier margins; any renewed capacity tightening could be the catalyst that resets pricing higher in 2026.
OWNER‑OPS, ANALYSTS SEE CAUTIOUS UPSIDE FOR 2026 FREIGHT RATES
After a year‑end spot rally, Overdrive reports improving sentiment among small carriers, with FTR pointing to modest tightening and a potential mid‑year recovery despite soft demand indicators.
RARE SOUTHERN SNOW AS COAST‑TO‑COAST STORM HITS SUNDAY
A 1,500‑mile winter system is bringing snow from the Florida Panhandle through the Mid‑Atlantic to New England, threatening icy roads and logistics delays across key freight corridors.
DC AREA SEES LIGHT SNOW; ARCTIC BLAST TO FOLLOW EARLY WEEK
Capital Weather Gang reports light accumulations and slick roads Sunday with a sharp temperature drop Monday–Wednesday, a mix that can snarl regional deliveries and morning commutes.
MIDWEST‑TO‑EAST WINTER STORM BRINGS WHITEOUTS, DANGEROUS TRAVEL
AP reports widespread snow, wind and sub‑zero wind chills across the Plains, Midwest and Northeast, with travel restrictions and hazardous conditions likely to disrupt truck routes and schedules.
CONNECTICUT LOGS 100+ CRASHES AS SNOW HITS; MORE ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE
Statewide crashes and speed restrictions followed Saturday’s storm, with a second round of snow possible Sunday—carriers should plan for lingering delays and slick interstate conditions.
THREE KILLED IN WRONG‑WAY I‑80 CRASH NEAR CORDELIA TRUCK STOP
CHP says a predawn wrong‑way collision near Fairfield, Calif., closed westbound I‑80 for hours Sunday—an incident highlighting ongoing winter‑weekend safety risks around high‑volume freight lanes.
USPS INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING PRICE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT TODAY
Postal Bulletin updates confirm competitive international price adjustments effective Jan. 18, 2026—shippers should validate new country groupings and updated Notice 123 rates before tendering parcels.
USPS INTRODUCES DELIVERED DUTY‑PAID (DDP) FEE FOR CERTAIN TERRITORY‑TO‑DOMESTIC SHIPMENTS
A new DDP facilitation fee effective Jan. 18 allows the Postal Service to process prepaid duties and taxes on eligible shipments—helpful for e‑commerce logistics teams managing landed‑cost checkout and returns.
NJ TURNPIKE, GARDEN STATE PARKWAY UNDER 45 MPH WEATHER SPEED LIMITS
Officials imposed 45‑mph limits across stretches of the Turnpike and Parkway as plows and salt crews work through Sunday’s snow, slowing freight flows through the Northeast corridor.
LAKE‑EFFECT SNOW TO DUMP 6–8 INCHES IN PARTS OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN JAN. 17–18
NWS advisories call for heavy lake‑effect bands and increasing winds Sunday–Monday along Lake Michigan, with hazardous driving likely for regional carriers and last‑mile operators.
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