Executive Summary
The North American logistics market enters the second week of September with different pressures across trucking, ocean freight, and port operations. In trucking, Dry Van and Reefer spot rates are showing a modest recovery, while Flatbed remains essentially flat. Driver availability remains constrained, with another decline in the estimated number of active CDL drivers and a further increase in market exits.
In ocean freight, Trans-Pacific rates remain elevated. Bunker costs, port congestion, and geopolitical risks continue to support prices near $7,600/FEU to the U.S. West Coast and $9,500/FEU to the U.S. East Coast. At the same time, the Panama Canal suspended a previously planned draft restriction, reducing some of the immediate operational risk for fully loaded vessels.
Across major U.S. gateways, container volumes continue to grow moderately, with Los Angeles above 96,000 weekly TEUs and Chicago above 50,000 TEUs at inland ramps. Dwell times remain manageable overall, although they are still elevated in Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and Chicago.
Overall, the market continues to reflect firm demand, selectively tight capacity, and a strong need for proactive operational planning, particularly for Reefer freight, Trans-Pacific lanes, and corridors exposed to weather-related disruptions.
U.S. Weather Forecast and Operational Impacts
The forecast for September 9–11 highlights three primary areas of risk: severe thunderstorms, persistent heat across the South-Central U.S., and heavy-rain/flash-flood potential.
A corridor of severe storms stretches from the Plains to upstate New York, with wind gusts potentially exceeding 60 mph. Highway corridors across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York may experience localized delays.
At the same time, heat remains intense across the Southern Plains and the Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, with heat index values between 100°F and 108°F in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and Oklahoma.
A cold front is expected to push into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, increasing the risk of heavy rainfall across Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. By the end of the week, storm risk shifts back toward the Upper Midwest, while the Southeast remains vulnerable to localized heavy rain.
Logistics Impact
Additional transit-time buffers are recommended across the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest, particularly along I-70, I-80, and I-95. Operations in Texas and Oklahoma should maintain enhanced driver hydration protocols and additional Reefer equipment checks.
On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices
This week’s report uses the latest published data through August 31, as the next update was scheduled for September 9.
The U.S. national average remains approximately:
$5.60/gallon
Key regional references include:
| Region | Current Price | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. National Average | $5.60 | -$0.05 |
| Gulf Coast | $5.36 | -$0.12 |
| Midwest | $5.57 | -$0.07 |
| West Coast | $6.50 | +$0.09 |
| California | $7.22 | +$0.18 |
The greatest cost pressure remains concentrated on the West Coast, particularly in California, where diesel remains well above the national average.
Implications for Shippers
Even with declines across several regions, fuel remains a significant component of total transportation cost. Contracts and rate evaluations should continue to carefully account for fuel surcharges, mileage, and regional diesel exposure.
Container Volumes and Dwell Times
Major U.S. ports continue to report moderate volume growth.
Major Ports
| Port | Current Volume | Dwell / Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 96,050 TEUs | 6.1 days / 2.4 hrs |
| New York/NJ | 73,650 TEUs | 5.5 days / 2.1 hrs |
| Savannah | 62,800 TEUs | 4.3 days / 1.9 hrs |
| Houston | 49,850 TEUs | 3.9 days / 1.6 hrs |
| Charleston | 35,850 TEUs | 3.8 days / 1.5 hrs |
| Norfolk | 32,150 TEUs | 3.8 days / 1.7 hrs |
| Port Everglades | 23,600 TEUs | 3.7 days / 1.4 hrs |
| Philadelphia | 14,850 TEUs | 3.1 days / 1.3 hrs |
Los Angeles remains the gateway facing the greatest operational pressure among the ports analyzed.
Inland Ramps
- Chicago: 50,650 TEUs | 7.1 days / 3.0 hrs
- Atlanta: 38,600 TEUs | 5.7 days / 2.5 hrs
- Charlotte: 25,200 TEUs | 4.7 days / 2.0 hrs
National drayage demand remains elevated at approximately 18% above the six-month average.
Operational Assessment
The data shows volume growth without a critical deterioration in performance. Even so, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York/New Jersey continue to require proactive planning for appointments, chassis availability, and free time.
FTL & LTL Freight Market
The period of September 1–7 showed a modest recovery in Dry Van and Reefer, while Flatbed remained broadly stable.
Dry Van
- Spot: $2.21/mile
- Contract: $2.35/mile
- Weekly increase of approximately 2 cents per mile
This was one of the first recent weeks of recovery, supported by reduced relative capacity availability.
Flatbed
- Spot: $2.66/mile
- Contract: $2.85/mile
Rates remained essentially flat, while demand tied to agricultural equipment shipments showed some softening.
Reefer
- Spot: $2.71/mile
- Contract: $2.55/mile
- Weekly increase of approximately 2 cents per mile
Produce-season demand continues to support the market.
LTL Market
Pricing remains relatively firm, supported by some freight shifting from truckload into LTL networks and continued carrier capacity discipline.
Weekly Movement
Dry Van is showing early signs of stabilization, Reefer remains seasonally supported, and Flatbed continues to display weaker momentum.
Market Outlook
The September 9 report shows a market characterized by moderate operational growth, selectively constrained capacity, and persistently high ocean transportation costs.
In trucking, the recovery in Dry Van and Reefer suggests the market may be establishing a floor after several months of weaker spot pricing. However, absolute rates remain below summer levels, and capacity availability varies significantly by equipment type and region.
In ocean freight, Trans-Pacific rates remain elevated due to the combination of fuel costs, congestion, and geopolitical risk. The Panama Canal’s decision to maintain its current draft provides some relief, but it does not materially change the higher-cost environment for Asia–U.S. trade.
At U.S. ports, volume growth remains gradual and manageable, although persistent dwell in Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, and Chicago continues to support the case for advance planning.
Strategic Recommendations
Over the coming weeks, shippers should maintain a balanced approach between leveraging spot-market opportunities and preserving contracted capacity on critical lanes.
Dry Van still offers room for negotiation, but early recovery signals suggest caution. Reefer requires greater lead time due to seasonality and relatively tighter capacity.
In ocean freight, advance bookings remain advisable on Asia–U.S. routes, especially to the East Coast, where rates remain near $9,500/FEU.
Fuel, port congestion, and weather conditions should also remain under close monitoring, particularly across Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic corridors.
