Executive Summary
The Global Cargo Corporation Weekly Market Intelligence Report, dated November 4, 2026, presents key indicators for the U.S. transportation and logistics sector, focusing on weather conditions, on-highway diesel fuel prices, container volumes, and FTL and LTL freight rates.
The weather forecast for November 4–6 highlights a cold front moving through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys toward the southeastern United States, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms. Rainfall is also expected across the Northeast, snowfall in the Colorado mountains, and unsettled conditions in the Pacific Northwest.
Diesel fuel prices declined across most monitored regions. The national average decreased from $6.35 to $6.29 per gallon, with the largest reductions recorded in the Lower Atlantic, Midwest, and California.
In container transportation, Los Angeles recorded an estimated weekly volume of 243,300 TEUs, while New York/New Jersey reached 185,900 TEUs. Houston handled an estimated 87,800 TEUs, and Savannah recorded 116,200 TEUs.
In the trucking freight market, spot rates experienced minor declines across all three major equipment segments. Dry Van reached $2.85 per mile, Flatbed declined to $3.31, and Reefer recorded $3.45, according to Truckstop/FTR indicators, including fuel.
U.S. National Weather Forecast
Period: November 4–6, 2026
Sources: NOAA / Weather Prediction Center (WPC)
Weather conditions during this period include frontal systems moving across the central and eastern United States, bringing rainfall, localized thunderstorms, and temperature fluctuations.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
A cold front advances through the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys toward the Southeast, bringing showers and isolated thunderstorms.
The Weather Prediction Center identifies a Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, the Southern Appalachians, and the corridor between West Palm Beach and Miami.
In the Colorado mountains, snowfall accumulations exceeding 8 inches are expected at elevations above 10,000 feet.
These conditions may cause delays in freight operations at Port Everglades and along mountain passes on Interstate 70.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Drier air reaches South Florida, while the cold front continues producing rainfall across the Carolinas and Virginia.
Precipitation also affects the Great Lakes region and portions of the Central and Southern Plains.
Weather conditions improve around the ports of Savannah and Charleston following the passage of the cold front.
In the Chicago area, rainfall may affect intermodal terminal operations and associated rail and truck transportation flows.
Friday, November 6, 2026
Heavy rainfall becomes concentrated across southern New England, Long Island, and potentially New York City.
The Weather Prediction Center identifies a Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall in urban areas and locations with limited drainage capacity.
A possible coastal low-pressure system may also produce strong winds across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
In the Pacific Northwest, rainfall and high-elevation snowfall continue, while a high-pressure ridge supports a warming trend across the West.
These conditions may cause delays at the Port of New York/New Jersey and along the Interstate 95 transportation corridor.
On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices in the United States
Comparison Period: October 26 and November 2, 2026
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Average on-highway diesel fuel prices declined across nearly all U.S. regions during the week ending November 2, 2026.
The national average decreased by $0.06, moving from $6.35 to $6.29 per gallon.
Weekly Diesel Price Comparison
| Region | Oct. 26 ($/gal) | Nov. 2 ($/gal) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. National Average | 6.35 | 6.29 | -0.06 |
| East Coast | 6.08 | 6.03 | -0.05 |
| New England | 6.42 | 6.42 | 0.00 |
| Central Atlantic | 6.50 | 6.49 | -0.01 |
| Lower Atlantic | 5.89 | 5.81 | -0.08 |
| Midwest | 6.48 | 6.40 | -0.08 |
| Gulf Coast | 5.95 | 5.91 | -0.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | 6.52 | 6.45 | -0.07 |
| West Coast | 7.33 | 7.27 | -0.06 |
| California | 8.16 | 8.08 | -0.08 |
Regional Price Developments
The Lower Atlantic, Midwest, and California recorded the largest weekly reductions, at $0.08 per gallon.
The Rocky Mountain region experienced a decline of $0.07, while the West Coast matched the $0.06 reduction observed in the national average.
New England was the only region where prices remained unchanged, with an average of $6.42 per gallon.
Despite the weekly decline, California continued to record the highest diesel price among the monitored markets, at $8.08 per gallon.
The next EIA diesel fuel price update is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
Container Volumes and Port/Ramp Dwell Times
Period: Weeks 41–44, 2026
Sources: Port Authorities and Drayage.com
Weekly container volumes are estimated using cargo movement statistics published by port authorities and available logistics activity indicators.
For Week 44, Los Angeles and Houston volumes were adjusted using September port statistics. Estimates for other markets are based on recent average container movements.
Container Volumes at Major U.S. Ports
| Port | Wk 41 | Wk 42 | Wk 43 | Wk 44* | Dwell (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 199,800 | 218,700 | 242,700 | 243,300 | 3.2 |
| New York/NJ | 177,500 | 194,300 | 188,100 | 185,900 | 4.0 |
| Houston | 71,000 | 77,700 | 87,800 | 87,800 | 3.2 |
| Savannah | 111,000 | 121,500 | 117,600 | 116,200 | 3.5 |
| Charleston | 60,300 | 66,000 | 64,000 | 63,200 | 3.0 |
| Norfolk | 60,400 | 66,100 | 64,000 | 63,200 | 3.1 |
| Port Everglades | 28,100 | 30,700 | 29,800 | 29,400 | 2.8 |
| Philadelphia | 14,600 | 16,000 | 15,500 | 15,300 | 2.5 |
Volumes expressed in TEUs. Weekly values are estimates.
Inland Intermodal Ramp Volumes
| Inland Ramp | Wk 41 | Wk 42 | Wk 43 | Wk 44* | Dwell (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 49,700 | 54,400 | 52,700 | 52,100 | 5.5 |
| Atlanta, GA | 36,200 | 39,600 | 38,400 | 37,900 | 4.2 |
| Charlotte, NC | 23,600 | 25,800 | 25,000 | 24,700 | 3.5 |
Container Movement and Dwell Times
Los Angeles recorded the highest estimated weekly volume among the monitored ports, with 243,300 TEUs in Week 44, remaining above the levels observed in previous weeks.
New York/New Jersey recorded 185,900 TEUs, while Houston maintained an estimated volume of 87,800 TEUs.
Savannah registered 116,200 TEUs, followed by Norfolk and Charleston, both with 63,200 TEUs.
Among inland intermodal terminals, Chicago led estimated container activity with 52,100 TEUs, followed by Atlanta with 37,900 TEUs and Charlotte with 24,700 TEUs.
Average Container Dwell and Gate Turnaround Times
| Location | Average Dwell | Average Gate Turn Time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 3.2 days | 1.4 hours |
| New York/NJ | 4.0 days | 1.1 hours |
| Houston | 3.2 days | 0.8 hours |
| Savannah | 3.5 days | 0.6 hours |
| Charleston | 3.0 days | 0.7 hours |
| Norfolk | 3.1 days | 0.8 hours |
| Port Everglades | 2.8 days | 0.6 hours |
| Philadelphia | 2.5 days | 0.5 hours |
| Chicago | 5.5 days | 2.3 hours |
| Atlanta | 4.2 days | 1.8 hours |
| Charlotte | 3.5 days | 1.5 hours |
Chicago recorded the longest average dwell time among inland intermodal terminals, at 5.5 days.
Among seaports, New York/New Jersey recorded the longest average dwell time, at 4.0 days, while Philadelphia had the shortest, at 2.5 days.
FTL and LTL Freight Rates by Equipment Type
Period: Week Ending October 30, 2026
Sources: Truckstop, FTR Transport Intelligence, and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Spot trucking rates experienced slight declines across all three major equipment segments during the week ending October 30.
Despite these decreases, freight rates remained significantly above the levels recorded during the same period in 2025.
Weekly Spot Rate Comparison
| Equipment Type | Oct. 23 ($/mi) | Oct. 30 ($/mi) | Reported Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | 2.87 | 2.85 | -2.5 cents |
| Flatbed | 3.32 | 3.31 | -1.6 cents |
| Reefer | 3.49 | 3.45 | -3.5 cents |
Truckstop/FTR rates include fuel. Differences may vary slightly due to rounding.
Dry Van — General Freight Transportation
The Dry Van spot rate declined by 2.5 cents per mile, reaching $2.85.
Despite the decrease, the rate remained approximately 48% above the level observed during the same period in 2025.
Load postings increased by 6.3% during the week and were approximately 28% above the level recorded one year earlier.
On the West Coast, Dry Van rates increased by nearly 65% year over year.
Flatbed — Open-Deck Transportation
The Flatbed spot rate declined by 1.6 cents per mile, reaching $3.31.
Year over year, rates remained approximately 42% above their 2025 levels.
Load postings increased by 11.2% during the week, following four consecutive weekly declines.
Advertised load volume was approximately 8% higher than during the same period in the previous year.
Reefer — Refrigerated Transportation
The Reefer spot rate declined by 3.5 cents per mile, reaching $3.45.
Rates remained more than 41% above the levels recorded during the same period in 2025.
Refrigerated load postings increased by 4.2%, primarily across the West Coast and Southeast regions.
In contrast, refrigerated freight origins in the Midwest experienced reduced activity.
Year-Over-Year Freight Rate Comparison
| Equipment Type | Current Spot Rate | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.85/mi | +48% |
| Flatbed | $3.31/mi | +42% |
| Reefer | $3.45/mi | More than +41% |
LTL Market — Less-Than-Truckload Transportation
LTL freight rates are primarily calculated by weight, frequently using hundredweight units, rather than per-mile pricing.
For this reason, there is no average per-mile rate directly comparable with the FTL equipment segments.
The national average diesel price decreased to $6.29 per gallon, contributing to moderating fuel surcharges.
The October manufacturing PMI reached 55.5 points, remaining above the 50-point threshold that indicates expansion in economic activity.
Week-Over-Week Market Movement
The average broker-posted rate on the Truckstop platform declined by approximately 1.3 cents per mile during the week.
Despite the decrease, rates remained 41.5% above the levels recorded during the same period in the previous year. Excluding fuel, year-over-year growth was slightly below 34%.
Total load postings increased by 8.5%, while the Market Demand Index reached its highest level in four weeks.
