US TRUCK RATES HIT HIGHEST SINCE 2022, ADDING INFLATION PRESSURE
Linehaul pricing climbed to cycle highs as carriers pass through surging diesel costs, tightening capacity and raising shippers’ transportation budgets.
DAT: SPOT RATES CLIMB AS FUEL SURGE TIGHTENS CAPACITY
National broker-to-carrier spot rates rose across van, reefer and flatbed last week even as load posts fell, signaling carriers are pricing in higher fuel and selective capacity deployment.
OIL PRICES WHIPSAW AS TRUMP’S HORMUZ DEADLINE NEARS
Benchmark crude swung on April 6 as Middle East risks kept energy markets on edge, a key input cost pressure for truckload and LTL fuel surcharges nationwide.
TRUMP TIES IRAN DEAL TO FREE PASSAGE THROUGH HORMUZ
The White House linked any agreement to guaranteed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with potential knock-on effects for diesel availability and freight costs if flows are disrupted.
TEXAS CARGO THEFT THWARTED; $240K COPPER LOAD RECOVERED
A Dallas executive helped police intercept a diverted copper shipment, underscoring active cargo-theft rings targeting high-value metals and the need for tighter load visibility and vetting.
AMAZON AND USPS REACH NEW PACKAGE DELIVERY DEAL
The agreement keeps roughly 80% of Amazon’s USPS volume, shoring up rural last‑mile capacity and preserving a key parcel channel for merchants and 3PLs reliant on postal coverage.
OPEC+ OKS SYMBOLIC OUTPUT HIKE, WAR DAMAGE TO WEIGH ON SUPPLY
Producers approved a modest May quota lift but warned that infrastructure damage could keep oil tight, a scenario that would sustain elevated diesel prices for trucking fleets.
ISM SERVICES COOLS AS INPUT PRICES SPIKE, PRESSURING FREIGHT COSTS
Service activity eased in March while prices paid jumped to the highest since 2022, signaling margin pressure for shippers and carriers coping with rising energy and labor costs.
AI MOVES FROM BUZZWORD TO MAINTENANCE TOOL FOR FLEETS
Maintenance leaders report real gains using AI for earlier diagnostics and planning, helping carriers reduce downtime and stabilize costs amid tight shop capacity and parts lead times.
FLEETS PREPARE FOR PC‑12 ENGINE OIL CATEGORY SHIFT
With PC‑12 oils arriving alongside 2027 emissions steps, fleets are reviewing viscosity strategies to balance fuel efficiency, durability and backward compatibility across mixed assets.
ACT EXPO COUNTDOWN: CLEAN-TECH STRATEGIES IN FOCUS AS FEDEX FREIGHT LEADER TO KEYNOTE
With the conference a month out, OEMs, large fleets and startups will map decarbonization, digitization and commercialization plans as the LTL unit readies its June 1 spinoff.
HORMUZ TRAFFIC HITS HIGHEST IN WEEKS AS SAFE‑PASSAGE DEALS EXPAND
More tankers are transiting the chokepoint, easing some near‑term supply fears, but route risk keeps diesel markets volatile for U.S. trucking fuel surcharges.
GLOBAL BUYERS TURN TO U.S. OIL, EXPORTS NEAR RECORDS
Overseas demand is pushing U.S. crude shipments higher, but port and vessel constraints cap gains—leaving refined product markets tight and diesel prices elevated for carriers.
FUEL WATCH: ENERGY VOLATILITY KEEPS SURCHARGES IN FLUX TO START THE WEEK
With crude fluctuating and OPEC+ rhetoric firm, carriers and shippers face another week of dynamic fuel tables, complicating bid strategies and routing guides.
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