The national diesel average dropped 16.5 cents to $6.127 per gallon, a welcome break on fuel costs, though oil markets remain volatile.
Diesel drops sharply this week
- $6.127 per gallon is the U.S. average retail diesel price for the week of 2026-11-09.
- Down 16.5 cents (2.6%) from the prior week, easing per-mile fuel costs for small carriers.
- Down 5.2 cents over four weeks, so most of the relief landed in just the last week.
- Oil markets remain volatile on geopolitical and refining risks, so keep fuel surcharge terms in place.
Source: EIA: Weekly U.S. diesel price, week of 2026-11-09 · FreightWaves: Diesel Price Drop: Why Oil Markets Are Tumbling
Rigid shipper contracts strain at peak
- Long rate locks, steep penalties and little flexibility have been some shippers' standard bid strategy from 2022 through 2025.
- A brokerage leader at A. Duie Pyle says that approach is breaking down as the market tightens.
- Shippers stuck with stale contract rates may lean on spot capacity, opening better-paying loads for small carriers.
Source: FreightWaves: Shippers running 2022-era bid playbooks face a tighter peak
Intermodal hits record in October
- Intermodal set a record in October, according to the AAR.
- Rail volumes rose across much of the freight economy, a sign of continued demand.
- More intermodal means more drayage work near ramps but competition for some long-haul dry van lanes.
Texas owner indicted over 57 drivers
- 57 unauthorized B-1 visa drivers were allegedly used by a Laredo trucking company owner to haul domestic freight.
- The owner faces federal charges, showing enforcement against illegal domestic hauling is active.
- Carriers playing by the rules lose loads to operators cutting corners, so this crackdown matters to rates.
Source: FreightWaves: Texas trucking owner indicted in scheme involving 57 unauthorized drivers
Ocean trade: fees delayed, rates ease
- Two more months: the U.S. postponed punitive fees on China-linked ships until January.
- Transpacific ocean rates eased slightly as peak demand at U.S. ports slows.
- Rates stay elevated year over year, so expect import drayage volumes to cool rather than collapse.
Source: FreightWaves: US postpones ‘million-dollar’ China ship tax until January · Supply Chain Dive: Transpacific ocean rates ease slightly as peak winds down
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