Intermodal Saves Up to 49% vs. Truckload on East Coast Lanes
Harrisburg-Atlanta van spot rates up 42%, intermodal up just 16%. Contract truckload climbs while rail pricing holds flat, opening the widest savings window in…
Tess Crawford
Markets, Rates, Fuel & Carrier Business
Tess Crawford tracks the money flowing through trucking, spot and contract rates, diesel and crude markets, fuel surcharges, lane capacity, freight demand, LTL tonnage and yield, plus the carrier-business side: bankruptcies, M&A, layoffs, and insurance pricing. She writes for the dispatcher checking the load board between calls and the small-fleet owner reading the P&L over coffee.
Private fleets split: ag expands, other sectors stall in 2026
Agriculture-tied private carriers are adding trucks while fleets in other industries hold equipment flat, marking the first sector divergence in private-fleet…
Chris Spear Steps Down as ATA President After Decade Leading Trucking's Largest Federation
Spear exits as the freight recession enters its third year. His successor inherits tort reform battles, 2027 emissions deadlines, and a driver market that…
Former State Trooper Brings Enforcement Playbook to Fleet Compliance
Lance Evans uses roadside inspection experience to vet drivers, challenge DataQ filings, and field regulation questions from K&B drivers.
Supply Crunch Could Run Into 2028 If ELD, CDL Rules Stick
Reliance Partners CRO says five regulatory enforcement actions already reshaping capacity. Demand improved June and July, but supply still drives the cycle.
U.S. refineries hit highest run rate since 2019 as Iran war drives output
Crude throughput reached 17.4 million barrels per day last week, the fastest pace in nearly seven years.
Diesel Crack Spread Hits $102, Record High Signals Pump Spike Ahead
The refinery markup on diesel just hit an all-time high of $102 per barrel, four to six times normal. What the record spread means for your fuel bill in Q4.
Leading Index Peaks, Signals Freight Demand Slowdown Into 2027
ECRI's global industrial leading index has turned down, pointing to slower freight growth in coming quarters even as volumes remain elevated.
Data Center Buildout Adds 1.5% Freight Volume Hidden From Cass Index
AI infrastructure construction is generating truckload volumes that conventional measures miss. Air freight imports up 17%, metals volumes rising, and tender…
LTL Carriers Say Shippers Still Don't Get Density-Based NMFC a Year In
Executives report confusion over freight classification changes that went live in August 2025, driving accessorial disputes and reclassification charges.
Volkswagen to Trim Traton Stake, Retain Control at 75%
VW plans to reduce its 87.5% holding in the truck maker to just above three-quarters ownership, keeping voting control while freeing up capital.
Acertus Buys Fisher Shipping, Second Car-Haul Deal in a Week
Finished-vehicle logistics provider Acertus acquired Massachusetts-based Fisher Shipping days after rival Proficient Auto Logistics announced a $130 million…