Diesel rose 9.7 cents last week to $6.276 a gallon, per EIA. Recheck fuel surcharges and lane math before quoting loads.
Diesel snaps back up
- $6.276 per gallon: U.S. average retail diesel for the week of 2026-10-19, per EIA.
- Up 9.7 cents (1.6%) week over week, so fuel cost per mile just rose.
- Still down 25.3 cents over four weeks, but last week's jump erased part of that relief.
- Make sure surcharge tables reflect the latest weekly average before booking freight.
Source: EIA: Weekly U.S. diesel price, week of 2026-10-19
Knight-Swift pushes for higher rates
- Double-digit increases: Knight-Swift is targeting them as its new bid season starts next month.
- Big carriers chasing contract hikes can lift the rate floor small fleets negotiate against.
- Knight-Swift beat Q3 expectations, with a fourth-quarter outlook in line with consensus.
- Ryder improved nearly every third-quarter metric and raised its full-year 2026 outlook.
Source: FreightWaves: Knight-Swift again eyes big rate increases as new bid season nears · FreightWaves: First look: Knight-Swift’s Q3 beats expectations · FreightWaves: First look: almost all strong numbers in Ryder’s third quarter earnings
Rail volumes and profits rise
- Record revenue: Norfolk Southern's third-quarter earnings rose on higher volume and fuel surcharges.
- CSX Q3 profit also climbed on more freight and higher fuel surcharge revenue.
- Stronger rail volumes mean more intermodal competition on long-haul lanes.
Source: FreightWaves: First look: Norfolk Southern earnings · FreightWaves: CSX profit jumps on volume and revenue growth
Port delays and border capacity
- Record September volumes pushed up cargo dwell times at San Pedro Bay Ports for truck and rail.
- Longer dwell means more waiting at LA and Long Beach, so price drayage detention accordingly.
- $90 million: DSV opened a Laredo facility combining cross-border trucking, warehousing and customs.
- A court challenge targets 50% tariffs on Canada, leaving the cross-border freight outlook uncertain.
Source: Supply Chain Dive: Extended peak season drives high dwell times at San Pedro Bay Ports · FreightWaves: DSV expands US-Mexico freight network with $90M Laredo facility · Supply Chain Dive: Trump’s 50% Canada tariffs challenged in court
Freight shifts to watch
- Nestlé will close an Ohio factory by end of 2027, moving production to South Carolina.
- That move could reroute food freight from Ohio lanes toward the Southeast.
- Primo Brands opened a new Arkansas plant to boost Mountain Valley sparkling water output.
- Tesla says its Class 8 electric Semi entered volume production ahead of a 2027 expansion.
Source: Supply Chain Dive: Nestlé to close Ohio factory by end of 2027 · Supply Chain Dive: Primo Brands opens first new factory post merger · FreightWaves: Tesla Semi enters volume production as 2027 rollout approaches
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