Freight Markets
Volumes, rates, capacity, fuel, imports, commodities, and modal market intelligence.
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China’s Fuel Export Halt Raises the Stakes of a Possible U.S. Diesel Ban—What Changes a Shipper’s Bill?
China’s reported fuel-export halt raises global supply risk. FIR separates policy, fuel benchmarks and the contract terms that change freight invoices.
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October Freight Outlook: Truck Volumes Soften, Air Cargo Tightens—and Cheap Capacity Is No Safe Assumption
Softer truck tonnage is no guarantee of cheaper freight. FIR’s October outlook separates fuel, linehaul, rail growth and tightening air capacity—and sets out mode-specific buying decisions.
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The $30 Billion U.S.–China Tariff ‘Cut’ Is Not Yet a Rate Cut—What Shippers Should Measure Now
The U.S. and China identified $30 billion of goods each for possible tariff relief—but no rates or effective date are final. Here is how shippers should measure exposure before changing…
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Parcel Peak Fees Begin Before Black Friday—UPS Today, FedEx Domestic Monday
UPS domestic demand fees begin Sept. 27, FedEx follows Sept. 28, and USPS prices change Oct. 4. Audit package attributes, stacked charges and volume baselines.
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A Flat Global Container Index Hid an 8%–9% Rise on U.S. Import Lanes
Drewry’s global container index barely moved in three weeks, while Shanghai–Los Angeles and Shanghai–New York assessments rose 8%–9%. FIR shows how to match contract benchmarks, quotes and sailings before Q4…
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BNSF’s $1.3 Million Shuttle Bids Put Grain Shippers’ 2027 Utilization to the Test
BNSF’s yearlong shuttle bids averaged $1.3 million while near-term premiums fell. FIR examines the utilization, contract eligibility and shipment-volume tests behind a sound 2027 capacity commitment.
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Old Dominion’s October 5 Rate Increase: Reprice Your Shipments, Not Just Your Budget
Old Dominion’s October pricing change gives affected LTL shippers a deadline to test actual shipment costs. FIR explains what to rerate, what not to infer, and how to compare alternatives.
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Rail Fuel Surcharges Hit 48 Cents a Car-Mile as Harvest Backlogs Build—What Grain Shippers Should Audit Now
Rail fuel surcharges reached $0.48 per car-mile as harvest demand tightened equipment. FIR identifies the rate, formula and car-supply exposures shippers should audit now.
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Intermodal’s 18% Weekly Gain Is Not a Demand Boom—The Holiday Distortion Shippers Should See Before Q4 Bids
AAR’s latest comparison is accurate but calendar-distorted. Actual intermodal volume fell 1.3% from the prior week, while year-to-date growth reached 4.2%. Shippers should separate the headline from the planning signal.