Topic: Motor Freight

Following August spot truckload volume and rate declines, September readings were more mixed, while conditions largely remained the same, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was released today by DAT Freight and Analytics.

The national average price per gallon, for the week of October 13, fell 4.6 cents, to $3.665, following a 4.3-cent decrease, to $3.711, for the week of October 6.

The September reading, at 57.4 (a reading above 50 indicates growth is occurring), trailed August’s 59.3 by 1.9%, coming in at its lowest level since March and its second-lowest this year—and it is the seventh consecutive month the LMI reading has been below the all-time overall average of 61.5.

The impetus for this planned action, Trump said, was due to China taking what he described as an extraordinarily aggressive position on trade, in the form of imposing large scale export controls on nearly every product made in China and some not made in China, including rare earth minerals.

Washington is considering a measure that would crack down on unsavory leasing practices in the trucking industry that backers say trap truck drivers into long-term debt and prevent them from becoming profitable owner-operators.

A session at this week’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE conference in National Harbor, Maryland addressed various aspects related to the current state of the freight market, including the impact of various freight recessions, above-average inventory levels despite efforts to reduce them, the importance of maintaining shipper-provider relationships, as well the impact of tariffs, and other topics.

A trio of industry stakeholders—each focused on different areas of surface transportation, including truckload, ground parcel, and less-than-truckload (LTL)—addressed current market conditions for their respective modes, as well as take a look at key priorities shippers need to be focusing on in 2026, at a session at this week’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

It is now more difficult for non-U.S. citizens to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) under new Department of Transportation (DOT) rules.

A panel of industry experts across different areas of the supply chain provided a detailed overview of market trends and themes this week in a session at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE annual conference, which was held in National Harbor, Maryland.

The national average price per gallon, for the week of October 6, fell 4.3 cents, to $3.711, for the week of October 6, which was preceded by a $0.005-cent increase, to $3.754, for the week of September 29

FTR reported that preliminary September Class 8 truck net orders, at 20,500 units, rose 60% over August and fell 41% annually. ACT reported that September preliminary North America Class 8 net orders, at 20,800 units, were off 44% annually.

For July, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at -2.0, an improvement over June’s -2.6 reading.

As global trade has seen significant shifts in a short time across 2025, coupled with the ongoing need for supply chains to build resilience and speed and become ever more agile, the role of the supply chain has subsequently evolved to being able to respond in short order to various things.

As e-commerce sales surge toward $8 trillion, third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are evolving to handle higher order volumes, tighter delivery windows, and complex returns using automation, AI, and integrated warehouse management systems (WMS). By offering scalable fulfillment, reverse logistics, and real-time visibility, 3PLs help shippers of all sizes optimize operations, cut costs, and enhance customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing digital marketplace.

A Transportation Management System (TMS) empowers logistics managers to optimize freight costs, improve visibility, and standardize processes while enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency. By leveraging automation, carrier management, reporting analytics, and sustainability tracking, a TMS helps companies scale, reduce costs, and gain actionable insights for smarter, data-driven transportation decisions.

The national average price per gallon, for the week of September 29, at $3.754, rose $0.005, following a $0.01-cent increase, to $3.749, for the week of September 22, which was preceded by a 2.7-cent decline, to $3.739, for the week of September 15.

For July, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading came in at -1.03, faring better than June’s -1.83 reading, the lowest in 2025, with the firm noting that the TCI improved despite all freight-related factors coming in lower than in June.

White House imposes steep tariffs on trucks, furniture, and pharmaceuticals as legal challenge to trade powers looms

Top-level executives at Plantation, Fla.-based global express delivery and logistics services provider DHL shared their thoughts and expectations about the 2025 Peak Season this week, on a company-hosted call.

Echo said its Mexico services include options for dry van, temperature-controlled shipping, flatbed, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation. And it added that with its integrated cross-border transportation technology and a team of bilingual experts, Echo provides shippers with what it called a seamless experience for navigating trade and customs regulations.