July’s port numbers look good on paper, but the reality on the road is a different story.
What happened
The latest Transport Topics report shows that the five largest U.S. seaports moved 1.2% more TEUs in July 2026 versus June, a stark slowdown from the 4.8% jump in May. While the West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle) posted modest gains, the Gulf and East Coast ports remain flat. Capacity utilization at the Port of Los Angeles hit 96%, prompting longer dwell times and a backlog of ~18,000 containers awaiting trucks.
Why it matters for dispatchers/drivers
When port throughput stalls, the truckload market contracts. Dispatchers see fewer “load‑to‑dock” offers, and drivers face longer wait times at terminals—often 2‑3 hours per stop, up from the usual 45 minutes. That drags down productivity, inflates fuel costs, and squeezes driver earnings. For owner‑operators, the reduced volume means fewer back‑haul opportunities, forcing many to deadhead at $0.60‑$0.80 per mile just to get back on the road.
My take
The industry’s obsession with “summer strength” is a smoke‑screen. Real‑world capacity is maxed out, and the bottleneck is now on the truck side. Until ports invest in automated gate systems and we get more drayage trucks on the road, drivers will keep getting the short end of the stick. EK Dispatch Academy is already updating its curriculum to teach dispatchers how to navigate these choke points and keep drivers moving.
What you should do
- Prioritize loads with **shorter dwell times**; use real‑time gate‑status apps.
- Build relationships with **non‑major terminals** that still have capacity.
- Push your broker or shipper for **dedicated drayage contracts** to guarantee back‑hauls.
— Ekjot Singh, Founder, EK Dispatch Academy