Executive Summary
The Global Cargo Corporation Weekly Market Intelligence Report, dated September 30, 2026, presents information on weather conditions across the United States, on-highway diesel fuel prices, major developments in the international maritime transportation industry, container volumes at U.S. ports, the commercial truck driver market, and FTL and LTL freight rates.
In this edition, the weather forecast highlights risks of heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the Great Plains, Texas, and Oklahoma, particularly between September 30 and October 2.
Diesel fuel prices declined across most U.S. regions. The national average decreased from $6.53 to $6.38 per gallon, while the Gulf Coast recorded a reduction of $0.22 per gallon.
In the maritime sector, major developments include the expansion of operational capacity at the Panama Canal, the resumption of selected services through the Suez Canal, port fees associated with China-linked vessels, and changes in U.S. import flows.
Estimated container volumes increased at the major ports and intermodal terminals monitored. Los Angeles recorded 222,200 TEUs in Week 39, followed by New York/New Jersey with 197,200 TEUs.
The commercial truck driver market continues to experience an estimated shortage of 82,000 drivers, with approximately 3.46 million active CDL drivers.
In the trucking freight market, Dry Van rates remained stable at $2.17 per mile, while Flatbed and Reefer rates recorded slight weekly declines.
U.S. National Weather Forecast
Period: September 30 – October 2, 2026 Sources: NOAA / Weather Prediction Center (WPC)
The weather forecast for this period presents varying conditions across the United States, including heavy rainfall, flash flood risks, severe thunderstorms, and temperatures above or below seasonal averages.
The primary areas of concern are concentrated across the Great Plains, Texas, Oklahoma, the Midwest, and portions of the East Coast.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
The combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and a strengthening low-pressure system over the High Plains creates favorable conditions for heavy precipitation.
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued a Moderate Risk of flash flooding for the southern Front Range, eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, central Texas, and southern Oklahoma.
Widespread rainfall accumulations of 2 to 3 inches are expected, with locally higher amounts.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) also identifies a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms across the Southern Plains, including the possibility of damaging winds, hail, and a few isolated tornadoes.
Across the eastern United States, the passage of a frontal system is followed by warmer and drier conditions.
In California, weather conditions remain favorable for the development of wildfires in certain areas.
Operational conditions described in the source document: The I-35, I-29, and I-80 highway corridors serving Dallas, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Kansas City are among the routes potentially affected by these weather conditions.
Thursday, October 1, 2026
The flood risk becomes concentrated across Texas and Oklahoma as a cold front remains positioned over the Great Plains.
The Moderate Risk of excessive rainfall shifts toward southeastern Oklahoma, the Texas Hill Country, and South Texas.
The report also indicates a Slight Risk of heavy rainfall extending from Texas to the Great Lakes region.
Cooler and drier air moves into the Northern Plains, while thunderstorms develop along the Florida and Gulf Coasts.
Temperatures may exceed 90°F in portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley.
Operational conditions described in the source document: The monitored areas include transportation operations associated with the Port of Houston, cross-border freight flows through Laredo, and the I-10 and I-35 corridors.
Friday, October 2, 2026
The excessive rainfall risk decreases to the Slight Risk category across the Southern Plains as the frontal system advances across the United States.
Heavy rainfall may still produce localized flooding in Texas and Oklahoma.
Rainfall advances toward the Great Lakes region, while lower temperatures create the possibility of frost across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
The Gulf Coast remains subject to showers and thunderstorms.
The Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and western United States experience predominantly warm and dry conditions.
The source document indicates a trend toward normal weather conditions across most transportation corridors, with continued attention to refrigerated freight operations in northern regions.
On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices in the United States
Comparison Period: September 21 and September 28, 2026 Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Average on-highway diesel fuel prices declined across most U.S. regions during the week ending September 28, 2026.
The national average decreased from $6.53 to $6.38 per gallon, representing a reduction of $0.15 compared with the previous week.
The Gulf Coast recorded the largest absolute reduction among the monitored regions, while the Rocky Mountain region experienced an increase.
Weekly Diesel Price Comparison
| Region | Sep. 21 ($/gal) | Sep. 28 ($/gal) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. National Average | 6.53 | 6.38 | -0.15 |
| East Coast | 6.27 | 6.14 | -0.13 |
| New England | 6.52 | 6.51 | -0.01 |
| Central Atlantic | 6.55 | 6.53 | -0.02 |
| Lower Atlantic | 6.14 | 5.95 | -0.19 |
| Midwest | 6.68 | 6.53 | -0.15 |
| Gulf Coast | 6.18 | 5.96 | -0.22 |
| Rocky Mountains | 6.34 | 6.41 | +0.07 |
| West Coast | 7.46 | 7.36 | -0.10 |
| California | 8.25 | 8.18 | -0.07 |
Regional Price Developments
The Gulf Coast recorded a reduction of $0.22 per gallon, declining from $6.18 to $5.96.
The Lower Atlantic experienced a decrease of $0.19, ending the period at $5.95 per gallon.
In the Midwest, the average price declined from $6.68 to $6.53, matching the $0.15 reduction recorded in the national average.
The West Coast registered a decrease of $0.10, moving from $7.46 to $7.36.
In California, diesel prices declined from $8.25 to $8.18 per gallon, remaining the highest among the regions presented.
The Rocky Mountains represented the main exception to the downward trend, with an increase of $0.07 per gallon, reaching $6.41.
The source document indicates that the next EIA diesel price update was scheduled for October 6, 2026.
–
Container Volumes and Port/Ramp Dwell Times
Period: Weeks 36–39, 2026 Sources: Port Authorities and Drayage.com
The container volumes presented correspond to estimated weekly averages derived from the latest monthly statistics published by port authorities.
For Week 39, the values were adjusted using the national average activity reported by Drayage.com, which increased by 2% compared with the previous four weeks.
Container Volumes at Major U.S. Ports
| Port | Wk 36 | Wk 37 | Wk 38 | Wk 39* | Dwell (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 217,500 | 219,300 | 220,600 | 222,200 | 3.0 |
| New York/NJ | 192,500 | 194,800 | 196,200 | 197,200 | 4.0 |
| Houston | 77,200 | 77,900 | 78,300 | 79,000 | 3.2 |
| Savannah | 120,200 | 121,800 | 122,900 | 123,300 | 3.5 |
| Charleston | 65,500 | 66,100 | 66,700 | 67,100 | 3.0 |
| Norfolk | 65,600 | 66,200 | 66,700 | 67,200 | 3.1 |
| Port Everglades | 30,500 | 30,800 | 31,000 | 31,200 | 2.8 |
| Philadelphia | 15,800 | 16,000 | 16,100 | 16,200 | 2.5 |
Volumes expressed in TEUs. Week 39 estimated.
Inland Intermodal Ramp Volumes
| Inland Ramp | Wk 36 | Wk 37 | Wk 38 | Wk 39* | Dwell (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 53,900 | 54,500 | 55,000 | 55,200 | 5.5 |
| Atlanta, GA | 39,300 | 39,700 | 40,000 | 40,200 | 4.2 |
| Charlotte, NC | 25,600 | 25,900 | 26,000 | 26,200 | 3.5 |
Dwell Times and Container Movement
The Port of Los Angeles recorded the highest estimated weekly volume among the monitored ports, reaching 222,200 TEUs in Week 39.
New York/New Jersey recorded 197,200 TEUs and an average container dwell time of 4.0 days.
Savannah handled an estimated 123,300 TEUs, while Houston recorded 79,000 TEUs.
Among inland intermodal terminals, Chicago reported the highest volume, with 55,200 TEUs, as well as the longest average dwell time, at 5.5 days.
The report also presents average truck gate turnaround times at the monitored terminals.
| Location | Average Gate Turn Time |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 1.4 hours |
| New York/NJ | 1.1 hours |
| Houston | 0.8 hours |
| Savannah | 0.6 hours |
| Charleston | 0.7 hours |
| Norfolk | 0.8 hours |
| Port Everglades | 0.6 hours |
| Philadelphia | 0.5 hours |
| Chicago | 2.3 hours |
| Atlanta | 1.8 hours |
| Charlotte | 1.5 hours |
The source document clarifies that metropolitan activity data from Drayage.com require authentication and could not be extracted directly.
The reported dwell times represent average container dwell periods, while gate turnaround times represent the average duration of truck entry and exit operations.
FTL and LTL Freight Rates by Equipment Type
Period: September 20–26, 2026 Sources: DAT Freight & Analytics, Truckstop, and FTR Transport Intelligence
Spot trucking rates remained stable in the Dry Van segment and recorded slight declines in the Flatbed and Reefer segments.
The document distinguishes linehaul rates, which refer to the primary transportation charge, from all-in rates, which include additional components such as fuel.
Weekly Spot Rate Comparison
| Equipment Type | Sep. 13–19 | Sep. 20–26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.17/mi | $2.17/mi | Unchanged |
| Flatbed | $2.60/mi | $2.59/mi | -$0.01 |
| Reefer | $2.73/mi | $2.71/mi | -$0.02 |
Dry Van — General Freight Transportation
The Dry Van spot linehaul rate remained at $2.17 per mile during the week ending September 26.
The source document reports that load postings increased by 2%, while truck postings rose by 3%.
The load-to-truck ratio reached approximately 11.4.
The all-in rate, including additional components, increased to $3.01 per mile.
Truckstop/FTR also reported a 4.5-cent increase in rates during the week ending September 25.
The report indicates that rates remained approximately 32% above the levels recorded during the same period in the previous year.
Flatbed — Open-Deck Transportation
The Flatbed spot linehaul rate decreased by $0.01, moving from $2.60 to $2.59 per mile.
Equipment postings declined by 5.7%, while the load-to-truck ratio reached 41.4.
The document identifies this ratio as the tightest among the equipment segments analyzed.
The all-in rate increased by $0.05, reaching $3.60 per mile.
Truckstop/FTR reported an increase of approximately $0.05 in its weekly comparison.
Reefer — Refrigerated Transportation
The Reefer spot linehaul rate declined from $2.73 to $2.71 per mile, representing a decrease of $0.02.
Both load and truck postings decreased by approximately 8%.
Despite the reduction in the linehaul rate, the all-in rate increased by $0.04, reaching $3.63 per mile.
Truckstop/FTR reported a decrease of approximately 7.3 cents in the segment’s rate during the period analyzed.
The document indicates that rates remained approximately 47% above the levels recorded during the same period in the previous year.
All-In Freight Rate Comparison
| Equipment Type | Spot Linehaul Rate | All-In Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.17/mi | $3.01/mi |
| Flatbed | $2.59/mi | $3.60/mi |
| Reefer | $2.71/mi | $3.63/mi |
LTL Market — Less-Than-Truckload Transportation
The report states that LTL freight rates are primarily calculated by weight, frequently using hundredweight units, rather than per-mile pricing.
For this reason, the source document does not provide an average per-mile rate directly comparable with FTL segment values.
LTL pricing continues to be influenced by trucking capacity conditions and fuel costs.
The document highlights that the national average diesel price of $6.38 per gallon remains a relevant component in the cost structure of less-than-truckload transportation.
Week-over-Week Market Movement
Linehaul rate movements were relatively stable during the week.
The Dry Van segment maintained the same rate, while Flatbed and Reefer experienced slight declines.
However, all-in rates increased across all three segments, according to the data presented in the source document.
The report also mentions DAT RateCast projections for late October:
| Equipment Type | Projected Linehaul Rate |
|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.14/mi |
| Reefer | $2.69/mi |
| Flatbed | $2.56/mi |
According to the source document, these projections remain between 46 and 63 cents per mile above the values recorded during the same period in the previous year.
