U.S. freight demand, spot rates, load availability, and market trends that impact owner-operators and carriers.
Union Pacific’s bid to absorb Norfolk Southern has turned labor politics on their head this week, with the nation’s largest rail union flipping from skepticism to support after securing a written pledge of career‑long job protection for train and yardmaster…
Introduction As of September 22, 2025, U.S. spot markets are navigating the seasonal transition into Q4 with a mix of softer month-over-month volumes and sharply tighter year-over-year capacity. National load postings fell 2.1% week over week and 13.0% month over…
With the U.S. set to begin phasing in new fees on Chinese-linked vessels on October 14, Maersk told customers it will not add a surcharge or alter service plans — even as major shipowner Seaspan moves to reflag roughly 100…
The Upper Midwest is entering its annual “capacity pivot,” when thousands of trucks migrate from long-haul lanes to short agricultural runs. As corn comes off the stalks, carriers reassign drivers to hoppers, end dumps and live-bottom trailers, elevators extend hours,…
Independent drivers and carrier representatives lined up at the Environmental Protection Agency this week urging the agency to unwind the Biden-era greenhouse-gas standards for heavy-duty trucks — a rare on-the-record show of support from freight’s front line for President Trump’s…
Introduction The week of September 15–21, 2025 closed with 3,175 new USDOT registrations, comprised of 2,925 carriers, 89 brokers, and 161 entities categorized as “others” (freight forwarders, intermodal/drayage, private fleets, etc.). Activity followed a classic midweek crest and weekend trough:…
Introduction Freight markets entered mid-September with mixed signals: spot prices mostly flat week over week, load-to-truck ratios higher than a year ago, and operating costs stabilizing alongside diesel. Under the surface, macro factors are doing the heavy lifting. August retail…
Target’s latest speed play is about geography and density. By the end of October, the retailer says next‑day parcel delivery will cover 35 of the nation’s top 60 metro areas — lifting reach to roughly 54% of the U.S. population,…
Dayton Freight has moved its Salem, Illinois service center to a newly renovated terminal in Mount Vernon, adding capacity and modernizing its footprint in southern Illinois. The company announced the relocation on September 22, 2025, noting the site features a…
The Teamsters’ march through United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) is no longer just a story about warehouse floors and DC yards — it’s a beachhead into Amazon’s food ecosystem. As FreightWaves reported, the union’s organizing wins and first-contract breakthroughs at…
