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šŸ“Š Daily Market Intelligence Report

Thursday, February 26, 2026

1:29 PM CST


šŸ“Š Top-Line Summary

The spot market has exploded with activity today, showcasing a massive volume surge to 246,230 available loads and a total market opportunity of $323.8M, driving the national average rate up to $2.30/mile. Flatbed freight continues to absolutely dominate the board with over 110,000 available loads as early spring construction and energy staging accelerates. For freight brokers, the most critical immediate catalyst is the newly announced 10% global tariff, which is already triggering massive import front-loading at major ports and straining outbound drayage and truckload capacity. Compounding these demand spikes is a structurally shrinking driver pool, exacerbated by the impending March 23 eDVIR final rule that threatens to sideline marginal equipment. With severe 70-75 mph crosswinds paralyzing transcontinental routes in Wyoming and freezing spray warnings disrupting the Great Lakes, brokers must navigate intense localized capacity vacuums and leverage real-time rate intelligence to capture widening arbitrage opportunities.

Daily market overview

⛽ Diesel Price Analysis

Price Trend Over Time

Diesel Price Trend Chart

AAA Historical Price Comparison

AAA Historical Price Comparison Chart

šŸŒ¦ļø Weather & Seasonal Intelligence

Current Major Weather Events:

ā›ˆļø Weather Impact Cascade

šŸ’° Financial Market Indicators

šŸ“° Impactful News Analysis

  1. New 10% Global Tariffs Threaten to Upend Supply Chains šŸ”—:
    The newly announced 10% global tariff is triggering immediate import front-loading as shippers rush to beat the implementation window. Brokers should aggressively target drayage and outbound truckload freight from major ports (LA/LB, Savannah, NY/NJ), as this sudden volume spike will rapidly consume local capacity and drive up spot rates.
  2. Impending eDVIR Final Rule to Squeeze Marginal Capacity šŸ”—:
    With the FMCSA's eDVIR final rule taking effect March 23, carriers will face stricter digital reporting of post-trip defects. Brokers must anticipate a drop in available capacity as carriers with aging or poorly maintained equipment are forced off the road. This structural tightening will give compliant carriers stronger pricing leverage in Q2.
  3. FMCSA Grants Exemption for CLP Holders in Team Operations šŸ”—:
    The renewal of an exemption allowing Commercial Learner's Permit holders to operate without a CDL driver in the passenger seat provides slight relief to team driver capacity. Brokers moving expedited or high-value freight should note that while this helps specific training fleets, overall team capacity remains exceptionally tight nationwide.
  4. FMCSA Reinstates Forward Thinking Systems ELD šŸ”—:
    The reinstatement of the Forward Thinking Systems BYOD ELD prevents a sudden loss of capacity from fleets utilizing this technology. Brokers should ensure their carrier vetting processes are updated to reflect this compliance change, avoiding unnecessary disqualification of otherwise legal and available carriers.

News Impact Timeline

šŸ” Competitive Intelligence

Demand Shift Indicators

šŸ‘„ Customer Sector Analysis

šŸ—ŗļø Regional & Lane Analysis

šŸ“ Primary Region Focus: Southeast US

The Southeast is currently the most dynamic and profitable region for freight brokers. A convergence of early produce season preparations, massive flatbed demand for Sunbelt construction, and a sudden surge in import volumes at ports like Savannah and Charleston (driven by tariff front-loading) has created a perfect storm for rate volatility. Capacity is tightening rapidly as equipment is absorbed by these competing sectors, pushing regional average rates well above the national $2.30/mile average.

šŸ›£ļø Key Lane Watch

Savannah, GA → Charlotte, NC:

This lane is experiencing a massive surge in volume as shippers rush to move front-loaded import freight out of the Port of Savannah ahead of new global tariffs. Van and flatbed capacity is being stretched thin, pushing paid rates upward as demand outpaces localized equipment availability.

Atlanta, GA → Orlando, FL:

This lane is characterized by strong outbound retail and beverage demand heading into Florida, contrasted by carriers eager to position themselves in the state for the lucrative outbound produce season. The capacity environment is balanced but highly sensitive to daily volume fluctuations.

🚨 Actionable Alerts

Rate Spike Warnings:

Capacity Shortage Alerts:

Opportunity Zones:

šŸŽÆ Strategic Recommendations for Today

šŸ’¼ For Customer Sales:

Narrative: Lead conversations with the impact of the new 10% global tariffs and the March 23 eDVIR rule. Explain that the massive surge in import front-loading is absorbing regional capacity, and the upcoming regulatory changes will sideline marginal carriers. Position ETA as the stable capacity provider in a tightening market.

Action: Call all customers with import exposure today. Offer guaranteed capacity for port-to-warehouse transloading and secure volume commitments before spot rates climb further.

šŸš› For Carrier Reps:

Sourcing Focus: Aggressively source flatbed carriers nationwide, as they are in extreme demand. For vans and reefers, focus on building round-trip dedicated loops in the Southeast to capture port and produce freight.

Negotiation Leverage: Use the extreme weather in the Mountain West (75 mph winds) and Great Lakes to steer carriers toward the booming, weather-clear Southeast market. Offer consistent, high-velocity port freight to carriers willing to commit to daily runs.

šŸ“ž Customer Communication Scripts

Rate Increase Justification For Import-Exposed Shippers

Opening Script: "Good morning — I want to get ahead of something happening right now in the market that directly affects your freight costs. Today we are looking at over 246,000 loads competing for available capacity nationwide, and the newly announced 10% global tariff has triggered a wave of import front-loading at ports like Savannah and Charleston. That volume surge is hitting the market today, and regional carriers near those ports are already being absorbed. We are seeing paid rates running above posted rates on outbound flatbed and van freight, which tells us carriers have the leverage right now. I want to lock in your coverage before this gets worse."

Value Proposition: By committing capacity now, your customer avoids the daily rate escalation already visible in real-time load board data, and secures reliable coverage during a period when marginal carriers are being pushed off the road ahead of the March 23 eDVIR compliance deadline.

Urgency Creator: Import vessels are arriving daily at Savannah and Charleston. Each arriving vessel adds immediate outbound pressure. Rates on outbound Savannah lanes are trending well above historical February averages and are expected to climb further this week as cargo clears port warehouses.

Objection Handler: If the customer says rates are too high: 'I completely understand the sticker shock — February is typically softer. But this February is structurally different. The tariff announcement is pulling forward freight that would have moved in March and April. That compressed demand, combined with the eDVIR rule removing marginal equipment from the road by March 23, means the capacity pool is shrinking at the exact moment demand is spiking. The rate you book today is likely the floor, not the ceiling, for this week.'

Capacity Shortage Communication For Reefer-Dependent Customers

Opening Script: "I am reaching out because reefer capacity is entering a critically tight window and I want to protect your lanes before the squeeze gets worse. Nationally, available reefer loads are running at roughly 13,700 — the tightest reading we have seen recently — and carriers are being pulled south to position for the early Florida and Georgia produce season. At the same time, the Great Lakes region is under storm force conditions with freezing spray warnings, which is pulling equipment into PFF-required service and off your available pool. The carriers who have options right now are being very selective about which loads they accept."

Value Proposition: Customers who commit volume now can lock in rates before outbound Florida reefer demand fully ignites. Carriers are willing to accept slightly softer inbound-to-Florida rates in exchange for guaranteed outbound produce freight — a dynamic we can use to negotiate on your behalf today.

Urgency Creator: The Florida produce season is not waiting. Early-season produce volumes are already beginning to pull carriers south. Within the next 7 days, the competition for reefer equipment on Southeast lanes will intensify significantly, and carriers who are already positioned will have no incentive to negotiate.

Objection Handler: If the customer pushes back on reefer pricing: 'The paid rate for reefer is currently averaging $2.47 per mile nationally, and that number is being pushed by structural constraints — not just seasonal demand. With Great Lakes PFF requirements absorbing equipment in the north and produce positioning pulling equipment south, the reefer market is caught in a vice. Waiting for rates to soften is a high-risk strategy in this environment.'

Flatbed Urgency Call For Construction And Industrial Customers

Opening Script: "I want to flag something critical for your project staging timelines. The flatbed market has essentially gone vertical — we are looking at over 110,000 loads competing for open-deck equipment nationally, with paid rates already above $2.53 per mile and trending higher. Early spring construction staging and energy sector activity are both hitting simultaneously, and the 70 to 75 mph wind event in Wyoming is physically removing transcontinental flatbed carriers from the road right now, concentrating demand pressure on the Southeast and Midwest markets. If you have infrastructure or industrial freight that needs to move in the next 10 to 14 days, we need to be talking about capacity commitments today."

Value Proposition: Securing flatbed capacity today, before project staging season reaches full acceleration, prevents the scenario where equipment simply is not available at any price during critical installation windows.

Urgency Creator: The Wyoming wind event is a short-term disruption, but the underlying flatbed demand is structural and seasonal. Once those carriers resume transcontinental movement, they will re-enter a market with 110,000+ competing loads. The capacity relief will be minimal and temporary.

Objection Handler: If the customer says they will wait for rates to come down: 'In a normal February, that strategy makes sense. This February, we have three simultaneous demand accelerators — tariff-driven front-loading, early construction staging, and weather-forced reroutes — all competing for the same flatbed equipment. The $131.4 million in open-deck market opportunity we are seeing today is not a blip. This is the new baseline for the next 4 to 6 weeks.'

🧭 Savvy Broker's Playbook

šŸ”‘ Executive Signal Summary


šŸ“Š National Anchors and Buy/Sell Cues


🌦 24–72h Weather and Capacity Playbook


šŸ›³ļø Tariff Front‑Loading: Port Surge Tactics (Immediate)


🚚 Equipment‑Specific Moves (What to quote and how)


⛽ Pricing Guardrails, FSC, and Detour Math


šŸ¤ Carrier Procurement and Negotiation


šŸ›” Compliance and Fraud Controls (eDVIR countdown)


šŸ—ŗļø Regional and Lane Targets (sell high, buy smart)


🧭 Ops Runbook (next 8 hours)


šŸ“ˆ EOD KPIs (success metrics)


šŸ”® Probability‑Weighted 72h Outlook


šŸ“ž Quick Customer Scripts (concise)


šŸ“… This Day in History

1616: Galileo Galilei is formally banned by the Roman Catholic Church from teaching or defending the view that the earth orbits the sun.
1929: President Calvin Coolidge signs legislation establishing the 96,000 acres (390 km2) Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
1995: The UK's oldest investment banking institute, Barings Bank, collapses after a rogue securities broker Nick Leeson loses $1.4 billion by speculating on the Singapore International Monetary Exchange using futures contracts.

šŸ’­ Quote of the Day

"People who have goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple."

— Earl Nightingale