State of North American Freight — September 28, 2026

This week's headline The spot market held steady this week, with van rates hovering between $1.80‑$2.40 per mile and flatbed rates at $2.40‑$3.10 per mile. Diesel prices slipped 2.1% to $3.82 per gallon on the EIA's latest report, easing pressure on profit margins. Accessorials such as detention and layover remain high in the Southeast, while the West Coast sees a modest drop in empty‑backhaul miles. Overall, carrier cash flow improved modestly as more brokers moved to 30‑day net terms.

Diesel & fuel surcharge update The U.S. Energy Information Administration posted a weekly average diesel price of $3.82 per gallon for the week ending Sept. 20, down from $3.90 the previous week. Canadian wholesale diesel averaged CAD 4.68/L, a 1.8% decline, reflecting the recent pipeline maintenance shutdowns in Alberta. Most carriers are applying fuel surcharges (FSC) at 12‑15% of line haul, with DAT’s fuel‑surcharge calculator showing a typical $0.12‑$0.15/mile add‑on for van loads. Keep an eye on the upcoming EIA forecast for Q4, which projects a modest rebound to $4.05/gal as refinery utilization climbs to 95%.

Hot freight lanes 1. **Los Angeles → Dallas** – High demand for dry van and refrigerated loads, driven by West Coast imports and Texas distribution centers. Spot rates are typically $2.10‑$2.35/mi for vans and $2.45‑$2.75/mi for reefers. 2. **Atlanta → Chicago** – Flatbed demand spikes due to construction material shipments. Rates sit around $2.70‑$3.00/mi, with additional $0.30/mi for lift‑gate accessorials. 3. **Toronto → Montreal** – Cross‑border LTL moves keep van rates in the $1.90‑$2.20/mi band. Detention at the border averaging 45 minutes adds $75‑$100 per load. 4. **Vancouver → Calgary** – Dry‑van and refrigerated lanes benefit from agricultural exports. Expect $2.00‑$2.30/mi for vans, $2.30‑$2.65/mi for reefers. 5. **Laredo → Memphis** – High volume of produce and automotive parts. Flatbed rates typically $2.55‑$2.90/mi, with frequent deadhead mitigation opportunities via back‑haul loads from Memphis to Dallas.

Broker spotlight & payment trends Truckstop.com’s latest broker ranking shows **BlueLine Logistics** and **Coyote Partners** moving into the top‑5 for on‑time payment, with 96% of invoices paid within 30 days. Conversely, **FreightWave Brokers** slipped to 12th place after a spike in 45‑day net terms, prompting carriers to demand higher load‑rate offsets.

Key payment trends: - Accelerated payments: 22% of brokers now offer a 2% discount for payment within 10 days via ACH, a tactic to win carrier loyalty. - Factoring activity: Factoring volume rose 4% YoY, reflecting carriers’ need to bridge cash gaps amid lingering detention disputes. - Accessorial scrutiny: More brokers are itemizing detention, layover, and mileage‑based fuel surcharges on load confirmations, reducing post‑load disputes.

Dispatcher tip of the week **Leverage real‑time lane data**: Integrate DAT’s Lane Insights API with your load‑board workflow. By pulling RPM (Revenue per Mile) calculations for each lane before quoting, you can avoid under‑pricing. For example, a van load from LA to Dallas at $2.15/mi yields an RPM of $2,150 on a 1,000‑mile haul. Compare that to the carrier’s operating ratio (fuel, driver pay, maintenance) to ensure a minimum 12% profit margin after ELD‑mandated HOS compliance costs.

Frequently asked questions **Q:** How should I factor detention into my rate quote? **A:** Estimate the average detention time for the lane (e.g., 30‑45 minutes in the Southeast) and apply the broker’s detention rate—usually $0.30‑$0.45 per minute. Add this as a separate line‑item to keep the base rate clean and avoid disputes.

Q: Are fuel surcharges still calculated on the posted diesel price or a weighted index? A: Most carriers use the DOT’s fuel‑price index, which blends U.S. and Canadian wholesale rates. Adjust your FSC by 0.02‑0.03 $/mi for every 0.10 $/gal change in the index.

Q: What’s the best way to reduce deadhead miles on the West Coast? A: Use Loadlink’s “Back‑Haul Match” feature to pair inbound loads with outbound capacity. Pairing a Los Angeles to Seattle inbound with a Seattle to Portland outbound can shave 150‑200 miles off deadhead, improving overall RPM by 5‑7%.

--- Stay ahead of the curve with real‑time market intel and proven dispatch strategies. For deeper training on lane analysis, rate negotiation, and load‑board mastery, visit EK Dispatch Academy’s pricing and load‑board resources.