by LM Staff on 20 March 2026 at 8:35 am

Rail carloads, at 228,299, posted a 1.0% annual gain, and intermodal containers and trailers, at 280,438, rose 1.1% annually.

by Jeff Berman on 19 March 2026 at 7:03 pm

The National Retail Federation (NRF) called for retail sales gains in 2026, to the tune of a 4.4% annal increase to $5.6 trillion, according to a forecast it developed in a partnership with Oxford Economics, an independent economic advisory firm.

by Jeff Berman on 19 March 2026 at 4:18 pm

This is the second straight time the Fed has paused the rate, following three consecutive rate cuts through December, with the current rate at its lowest level since 2022. In December, the rate was cut to 3.5%-to-3.75%, which followed the previous two FOMC meetings, in which the federal funds rate was lowered to 4.0%-4.25% and 3.75%-to-4.0%, respectively.

by Jeff Berman on 19 March 2026 at 2:52 pm

With a focus on addressing rapidly-rising energy prices, spurred on by the joint strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iran nearly three weeks ago, in an initiative geared halting Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, the White House said yesterday it is temporarily waiving the Jones Act for a 60-day period.

by Jeff Berman on 19 March 2026 at 2:03 pm

The Port of Los Angeles reported that total volume—at 824,323 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—increased 3% annually, and the Port of Long Beach reported that total February volume—767,525 TEU—saw a 0.3% annual gain.

by Brian Straight on 18 March 2026 at 8:48 am

A decade of investment in tracking tools and control towers has produced more data but not necessarily better decisions.

by LM Staff on 18 March 2026 at 7:43 am

MODEX 2026 is expected to set new records for attendance and exhibit space.

by Jeff Berman on 17 March 2026 at 5:41 pm

The February Van TVI, at 210, was off 5%, from January to February, with the Reefer TVI, at 173, off 7%, and the Flatbed TVI, at 256, was off 1%—for the same period. DAT said that each segment fell by around 6% annually. DAT explained that van and reefer were down less than expected because of February being a shorter month—suggesting that the daily average freight volume was actually up for the month sequentially.

by Jeff Berman on 17 March 2026 at 3:27 pm

As oil and gas prices continue to see significant increases, going back to the recently-launched joint strikes by the United States and Israel less than three weeks ago, in an initiative geared towards halting Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, the national diesel average, for the week of March 16, came in at $5.071, increasing $1.522 annually and up $0.212 compared to the week of March 9.

by Jeff Berman on 17 March 2026 at 1:04 pm

On the revenue side, the firm found that total U.S. domestic parcel market revenue, at $196 billion increased 4.1% annually, with volume growing to a lesser degree, up 0.4% annually, to 23.9 billion parcels, which represented a new all-time high.

by LM Staff on 16 March 2026 at 3:16 pm

The firm’s current SCI forecast prior to the US-Israel joint attack on Iran called for the February reading to come in lower than January’s -5.0, the lowest reading since July 2022.

by LM Staff on 16 March 2026 at 2:38 pm

The report finds global trade remain strong even as U.S.–China economic ties continue to weaken.

by Jeff Berman on 13 March 2026 at 4:40 pm

Not long after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched Section 301 investigations under the Trade Act of 1974 related to what it called structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors earlier this week, beginning with China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan, and India, it subsequently followed up with an announcement indicating it has added another 60 countries to its Section 301 investigations list.

by Jeff Berman on 13 March 2026 at 3:06 pm

February imports, at 2.19 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), were off 5.3% annually, marking the sixth consecutive annual decline.

by John D. Schulz on 13 March 2026 at 7:14 am

Trucking interests are applauding a move by the Trump administration to tighten up regulatory language affecting an estimated 350,000 independent contractors.

by LM Staff on 13 March 2026 at 7:02 am

Rail carloads, at 231,889, posted a 5.7% annual gain, and intermodal containers and trailers came in at 283,107 units, for a 1.8% annual increase

by Jeff Berman on 12 March 2026 at 5:26 pm

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) this week said it plans to launch Section 301 investigations under the Trade Act of 1974 related to what it called structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.

by Jeff Berman on 12 March 2026 at 4:54 pm

San Francisco-based Thoma Bravo, a global technology-focused investment firm said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Austin-based parcel- and freight-focused third-party logistics (3PL) services provider WWEX Group and its various brands, including Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics and BLX Logistics.

by Jeff Berman on 12 March 2026 at 1:22 pm

February U.S.-bound container imports, at 2,093,422 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), fell 9.7% annually, from January to February, following a 4.1% gain, from December to January, while falling 6.5% annually.

by Jeff Berman on 12 March 2026 at 12:44 pm

For more than a while now, maybe even going back to the onset of the pandemic a little more than six years ago, there have been what could be viewed as divergent, or perhaps mixed, messages, from industry stakeholders, when it comes to assessing the state of the freight economy. That, in itself, is not entirely surprising, as there are several variables that need to be factored in for stakeholders to provide their respective takes.