Executive Summary
The U.S. transportation and logistics market enters September with mixed signals across operating costs, freight demand, and capacity availability. The environment combines persistently high diesel prices, strengthening truckload demand, Trans-Pacific ocean rates at new highs, and relatively stable container volumes across major U.S. gateways.
In trucking, diesel prices provided modest relief across most of the country, with the national average declining to $5.60/gallon. The West Coast moved in the opposite direction, however, with the regional average rising to $6.50/gallon, while California reached $7.22/gallon, increasing cost pressure on western U.S. operations.
FTL market conditions show an important shift. Total load activity increased 11.2% week over week, the strongest gain in seven weeks. Dry Van ended an eight-week streak of declining spot rates, while Reefer posted a strong increase associated with Labor Day timing. Flatbed, by contrast, remained on a downward trajectory.
In ocean freight, resilient demand, congestion at Asian ports, and capacity constraints continue to support elevated rates. Asia–U.S. West Coast rates reached approximately $7,621/FEU, while Asia–U.S. East Coast rates climbed to approximately $9,791/FEU.
For shippers, the beginning of September requires particular attention to Trans-Pacific capacity, West Coast fuel costs, equipment availability, and potential weather-related disruptions.
U.S. Weather Forecast and Operational Impacts
The September 2–4 outlook presents significant weather risks across several major U.S. freight corridors.
A prolonged late-summer heat wave remains over the central and southern United States and is expanding toward the East Coast. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are experiencing heat indices around 105–110°F, increasing operational risks for drivers, equipment, and temperature-sensitive freight.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Edouard are also bringing heavy rainfall and flash-flood risks to East Texas. Some areas could receive 3–6 inches of rain, with localized totals approaching 9 inches. Regional transportation and drayage operations should anticipate potential delays.
At the same time, a cold front is moving through the Great Lakes toward the Mid-Atlantic, creating the potential for severe thunderstorms, while monsoonal moisture continues to support flash-flood risks from Arizona into New Mexico.
Logistics Impact
Carriers and shippers should build additional transit-time buffers into operations across Texas and the Great Lakes–Mid-Atlantic corridors. Driver safety protocols and reefer pre-trip inspections should also be reinforced in regions affected by extreme heat.
On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices
Diesel prices posted a modest nationwide decline, although regional trends remain sharply divergent.
The U.S. national average decreased from $5.65 to $5.60 per gallon, a week-over-week reduction of $0.05.
| Region | Previous Week | Current Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Average | $5.65 | $5.60 | -$0.05 |
| East Coast | $5.50 | $5.45 | -$0.05 |
| New England | $5.72 | $5.74 | +$0.02 |
| Central Atlantic | $5.84 | $5.84 | Flat |
| Lower Atlantic | $5.35 | $5.28 | -$0.07 |
| Midwest | $5.64 | $5.57 | -$0.07 |
| Gulf Coast | $5.48 | $5.36 | -$0.12 |
| Rocky Mountain | $5.54 | $5.56 | +$0.02 |
| West Coast | $6.41 | $6.50 | +$0.09 |
| California | $7.04 | $7.22 | +$0.18 |
The Gulf Coast recorded the largest decline, while California posted the strongest increase.
Implications for Shippers
Despite the modest national decline, diesel remains expensive. West Coast operations are under particular pressure, making it increasingly important to monitor fuel surcharges and evaluate total landed transportation costs rather than linehaul rates alone.
Container Volumes and Port / Ramp Dwell Times
Major U.S. gateways continue to report high but relatively stable container volumes.
Los Angeles remains the largest gateway in the report at approximately 95,350 TEUs, followed by New York/New Jersey with 73,100 TEUs and Savannah with 62,230 TEUs.
Current port dwell times include:
- Los Angeles: 6.0 days
- New York/New Jersey: 5.4 days
- Savannah: 4.2 days
- Norfolk: 3.8 days
- Houston and Charleston: 3.7 days
- Port Everglades: 3.6 days
- Philadelphia: 3.0 days
Among inland ramps, Chicago remains the primary area of concern, with approximately 50,120 TEUs and a 7.0-day dwell time. Atlanta stands at 5.6 days and Charlotte at 4.6 days.
National drayage demand remains classified as High, approximately 16% above the six-month average, although activity has remained relatively stable compared with the previous four weeks.
Operational Assessment
There are currently no signs of systemic congestion across the monitored gateways, but Chicago and Los Angeles continue to require closer attention. Advance drayage bookings may help reduce exposure to delays as September peak-season activity develops.
FTL & LTL Freight Rates
The FTL market showed an important shift during the week of August 24–28, particularly in Dry Van and Reefer.
Dry Van
The spot rate stood at $2.77/mile, compared with approximately $2.94/mile for contract freight.
Despite the gap, spot rates increased by approximately 0.2 cents per mile, ending an eight-week streak of consecutive declines.
Freight activity also increased sharply, providing an early indication that the market may be stabilizing.
Flatbed
Flatbed remained under pressure, with a spot rate of $3.32/mile, compared with $3.74/mile for contract freight.
This represented the 11th consecutive weekly decline, although the decrease was the smallest in nine weeks.
Reefer
Reefer recorded the week’s strongest movement.
Spot rates jumped 15.6 cents to $3.55/mile, compared with approximately $3.30/mile in the contract market.
This was the largest increase in eight weeks, partially supported by Labor Day timing. Reefer loads increased 11.9% week over week.
LTL Market
LTL pricing remains relatively firm. The Logistics Managers’ Index registered 68.9, still well above its historical average of 61.7, supporting continued pricing discipline among LTL carriers.
Week-over-Week Movement
Total load activity increased 11.2% week over week, the strongest gain in seven weeks and approximately 23% above the same period last year.
At the same time, truck postings declined 2.2%, pushing the Market Demand Index (loads-to-trucks) to its highest level in six weeks.
This represents an important signal of strengthening freight demand relative to available capacity.
Market Outlook
The beginning of September is showing signs that the truckload market could be entering a period of stabilization following several weeks of weakening spot rates.
The 11.2% increase in freight activity, combined with lower relative truck availability, deserves close attention. Dry Van ended its declining streak, while Reefer recorded a substantial increase, although part of that movement reflects Labor Day seasonality.
Conditions remain tighter in ocean freight. Trans-Pacific rates of approximately $7,600–$9,800/FEU, Asian port congestion, and Panama Canal restrictions continue to create significant cost and capacity risks.
At the same time, volumes across major U.S. ports remain elevated but manageable. This creates an environment in which any additional acceleration in imports could quickly increase pressure on drayage capacity, equipment availability, and inland transportation networks.
Strategic Recommendations
Over the coming weeks, the key priority will be determining whether the recent increase in FTL demand represents only a Labor Day seasonal effect or the beginning of a more sustained shift in the freight cycle.
In Dry Van, opportunities remain in the spot market, but recovering demand suggests caution before significantly reducing contracted capacity. For Reefer, rising volumes and rates support earlier booking and stronger capacity planning.
On the West Coast, diesel prices of $6.50/gallon regionally and $7.22/gallon in California should be incorporated into landed-cost and fuel-surcharge analyses.
In ocean freight, shippers with Asia–U.S. cargo should book earlier, evaluate alternative routing options, and closely monitor Panama Canal restrictions, particularly for East Coast-bound shipments.
