Industrial Production Drives Freight Recovery as PMI Hits 54.0
ISM manufacturing index climbs to highest level since May 2022. New orders at 56.8 signal rising freight volumes ahead for small fleets.
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.
RPS Turned FedEx Ground Into a Parcel Giant, Then Paid for LTL
The 1998 Caliber deal brought RPS and unwanted Viking Freight. Now FedEx spins off the LTL network RPS forced it to buy.
Brent Crude Jumps $2.22 to $98.22, Up 10% This Week
Oil prices climbed 10% this week after a two-week retreat as U.S. and Iran trade attacks. Brent hit $98.22 per barrel June 3.
Transportation Prices Hit Record Growth Rate in May, Index at 96
Logistics Managers' Index logged a 96 reading for transportation prices in May, the fastest growth rate in the 10-year dataset, as capacity contracted and…
Towing Bills Are Draining Small Fleets $50 a Day Over State Caps
80% of carriers paid inflated recovery fees. Most never checked state rate ceilings or audited the invoice.
Fuel Cards, Dashcams Cut Costs When Diesel Swings, Three ROI Plays
Fuel analytics, video telematics, and ELD automation deliver measurable savings on the three biggest line items: fuel, insurance, and compliance fines.
Diesel Drops 17 Cents to $5.35/Gal, Lowest Since March
Benchmark fuel price falls to pre-surge level as Hormuz reopening talk pushes futures down 67 cents in two weeks.
Diesel Prices Drop After Memorial Day, Gas Hits $4.56 National Average
National diesel and gasoline prices declined following Memorial Day weekend, though fuel costs remain $1.40 per gallon higher than May 2025 as Strait of Hormuz…
Diesel Tech Retention Hinges on Respect and Tools, Not Just Pay
Survey data shows fleets falling short on workplace basics that keep mechanics from walking, even when wages are competitive.
Dry Van Spot Rates Hit $2.27, Up 48% Year-Over-Year
All three equipment types posted gains last week as freight market tightens. Flatbed set new record at $2.87 per mile.
Biodiesel Production Rebounds After RFS Volume Rule Finalized
Trucking firms can cut fuel costs with biodiesel as production picks back up following federal renewable fuel mandate clarity.
Prime Inc. Opens $7.9M Used-Truck Dealership Built for Owner-Operators
The Springfield flagship adds 107 display spaces and driver-centered amenities to Prime's Pedigree dealership network.