News

National spot market truckload rates declined this week across major lanes as post-holiday demand dipped and capacity flooded back in.

• Dry van and reefer rates fell between 2–4% week-over-week.
• Brokers are seeing more aggressive pricing from small carriers trying to fill trucks.
• Expect contract negotiations to favor shippers short-term, especially in the Southeast and Midwest.

Actionable Tip: Revisit stale shipper leads now that rates are falling—use pricing leverage to convert fence-sitters.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a warning about an uptick in newly registered carriers attempting to bypass safety violations under new names.

• 3PLs are urged to tighten vetting processes and regularly audit carrier MCs and DOT histories.
• The FMCSA is enhancing screening tools to help brokers spot fraudulent setups.

New Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protocols at major Texas-Mexico crossings are creating long delays for commercial freight, particularly in Laredo and El Paso.

• New ag inspection measures are slowing FTL loads from central Mexico.
• Produce and auto parts shipments are being hit hardest.

What to Do: Proactively communicate longer transit windows to shippers and reroute via Nogales or Otay Mesa if available.

DAT just rolled out an AI-powered lane rate prediction tool to help 3PLs estimate real-time freight pricing by region and lane.

• The model uses historical trends + current tender rejections to suggest optimal pricing.
• Beta users report 10–15% faster quoting on lane requests.

Use Case: Implement it within your quoting SOP to speed up response times and undercut slower brokers.

Florida completed its I-4 expansion 8 months ahead of schedule, improving throughput between Orlando and Tampa—a key FTL lane.

• One additional lane in each direction is now open between U.S. 27 and SR 536.
• This will relieve delays for e-commerce and perishables moving through Central Florida.

Impact for Brokers: Expect better on-time performance and possible rate stability in the region through Q2.

• Volumes will remain soft through April 21 as shippers clear out excess inventory from Q1.
• Watch for reefer spikes near produce regions (CA Central Valley, Texas Valley, and South Georgia).
• Prepare for May contract updates from large national shippers—now is the time to lock in lanes before summer volatility.

Let FleetCore Logistics be your edge in a competitive freight world.
Need help navigating your customer outreach or want a ready-to-go freight market update for your clients? Contact us at 📧 info@fleetcorelogistics.com