π Daily Market Intelligence Report
Saturday, March 21, 2026
7:00 AM CST
π Top-Line Summary
The spot market is experiencing a sharp weekend volume contraction, with total available loads dropping 17.3% overnight to 152,178, though the market average rate remains remarkably firm at $2.49/mile. This pricing resilience despite falling volumes is heavily driven by surging operating costs, as the national average diesel price climbs to $5.208/gallon, forcing carriers to reject cheap freight. Geographically, the West Coast and Southwest are facing severe operational disruptions due to 100+ degree heat waves in California and Arizona colliding with major river flooding in Washington State. These extreme weather events are paralyzing key transcontinental corridors like I-5 and I-10, creating massive rate volatility and lucrative arbitrage opportunities for brokers who can secure reliable capacity in these high-risk zones.
Insight
Weekend softness is masking a Monday coverage problem
The 17.3% drop in posted loads should not be read as a true easing of capacity. With diesel above $5.20 and weather still disrupting the West, many carriers are simply declining unattractive weekend freight and waiting for Monday repricing. The more important signal is that rates are holding despite lower volume, which points to a higher floor for replacement coverage once routing guides reopen and deferred freight hits the board.
β½ Diesel Price Analysis
AAA Historical Price Comparison
π¦οΈ Weather & Seasonal Intelligence
Current Major Weather Events:
- Major River Flooding (Washington (WA, Snohomish County)): Severe flooding along the Snohomish River is inundating roads and farmland, causing major disruptions to the I-5 and I-90 freight corridors. Carriers are actively avoiding the region, severely tightening outbound capacity and driving inbound rate premiums.
- Extreme Heat Warning (Southwest (AZ, CA)): Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 108 degrees are severely straining reefer equipment and increasing breakdown risks along the I-10 and I-40 corridors. Carriers are demanding massive premiums to operate in this region.
- Minor River Flooding (Indiana (IN, Gibson and Knox counties)): Lowland flooding along the White River is causing localized road closures and detours, slightly delaying regional Midwest routing and agricultural freight movements.
Weather Affected Corridors:
Weather Insight
Washington flooding risk shifts from rainfall to drainage delays
Snohomish-area conditions turn cooler and drier through Monday, which should help water levels gradually recede, but flooded local approaches and industrial access roads are likely to lag the weather improvement. That keeps pickup and delivery reliability compromised even if mainline driving conditions look better on paper.
- Expect the worst disruption on first- and last-mile moves around north Puget Sound, not just on headline interstate corridors.
- Tuesday's return to rain and snow in Washington raises the risk of recovery stalling before backlog clears.
π° Financial Market Indicators
- Diesel Futures: Global geopolitical tensions, particularly the Iran conflict, are driving crude oil and diesel futures higher, indicating that the current $5.208/gallon fuel environment will persist and potentially worsen in the near term.
- Carrier Financial Health: Small to mid-sized carriers are facing critical cash flow crunches as the gap between spot rates and surging fuel costs widens. Broker vetting must be rigorous as carrier bankruptcies and operational scale-backs accelerate.
- Economic Indicators: Retail and agricultural sectors are facing compounding inflationary pressures from both rising freight costs and direct fuel expenses, leading to more aggressive rate negotiations with transportation providers.
π° Impactful News Analysis
-
Massive SAP Fraud Exposes 1,000+ Drivers with Uncleared Drug Violations π:
A major breakdown in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has allowed a fraudulent Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to clear over 1,000 drivers with positive drug tests. For brokers, this drastically elevates the risk of negligent selection lawsuits. Operations teams must immediately tighten carrier vetting protocols and ensure all active carriers have verified, legitimate Clearinghouse status, as capacity may suddenly tighten if these drivers are abruptly pulled from the road.
-
Agricultural Sector Hit Hard by Surging Off-Road Diesel Prices π:
Off-road diesel prices have spiked to nearly $5.00/gallon, severely impacting farm operations just as the spring planting and early produce seasons begin. Brokers handling agricultural and reefer freight should expect shippers to aggressively push back on freight rates to offset their operational losses, while carriers will simultaneously demand higher rates to cover their own fuel costs. This squeeze will require brokers to find creative consolidation solutions to preserve margins.
-
Iran Conflict Triggers Massive Uncertainty and Surcharges in Ocean Shipping π:
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is causing severe port congestion, deteriorating schedule reliability, and rising surcharges in ocean container shipping. For domestic freight brokers, this translates to highly unpredictable port drayage volumes and urgent transloading demands on the East and Gulf Coasts. Brokers should position capacity near major ports to capture high-margin, expedited inland moves as shippers scramble to bypass congested maritime bottlenecks.
News Insight
Clearinghouse fallout could show up first as tender instability
The immediate brokerage risk from the fraudulent SAP clearances is not only legal exposure; it is sudden execution failure if small fleets lose drivers with little warning. Expect a higher-than-normal chance of same-day carrier falloff or swapped drivers on booked freight, especially on premium weekend and early-week loads where backup options are already thin.
π Competitive Intelligence
- Digital Load Board Trends: Real-time data shows a significant 17.3% drop in weekend load postings, but paid rates are holding firm at $2.49/mile. This divergence indicates that carriers are successfully holding the line on pricing due to fuel costs, refusing to race to the bottom despite lower volume.
- Capacity Alerts: Capacity is critically tight in the Pacific Northwest due to flooding and in the Southwest due to extreme heat. Conversely, the Southeast is seeing a slight surplus of inbound capacity as carriers seek freight moving toward the East Coast ports.
- Technology Disruptions: The industry is seeing a rapid acceleration in automated fraud detection tools being deployed by major brokerages in response to rising identity theft and the recent FMCSA Clearinghouse vulnerabilities.
π₯ Customer Sector Analysis
- Retail: Retailers are heavily utilizing expedited and team transit to bypass ocean shipping delays caused by Middle East conflicts, creating high-margin opportunities for brokers with reliable team capacity.
- Manufacturing: Industrial manufacturing remains the primary driver of the massive flatbed demand (65,455 loads), though high fuel costs are forcing manufacturers to consolidate shipments where possible.
- Agriculture: The spike in fertilizer and off-road diesel costs is devastating farm margins, leading to highly contentious rate negotiations for early season produce moving out of the Sunbelt.
- Automotive: Auto parts suppliers are struggling with unpredictable inbound container arrivals, driving a surge in urgent, short-haul expedited van loads from inland ports to assembly plants.
πΊοΈ Regional & Lane Analysis
π Primary Region Focus: West Coast & Southwest
The Western US is currently the most volatile and profitable region for freight brokers due to a collision of extreme weather events and surging fuel costs. Major flooding in Washington State (WX9A
- is paralyzing the northern I-5 corridor, while extreme 100+ degree heat in California and Arizona (WX06E
- is severely straining reefer capacity in the south. Combined with West Coast diesel prices significantly outpacing the $5.208 national average, carriers are demanding massive premiums to operate in this region. This volatility is creating exceptional arbitrage opportunities for brokers who can secure reliable capacity, particularly temperature-controlled units, and navigate the complex routing disruptions
π£οΈ Key Lane Watch
Los Angeles, CA β Seattle, WA: This critical I-5 corridor is currently a logistical nightmare, battered by 100+ degree heat at the origin and severe river flooding at the destination. Capacity is virtually non-existent as carriers refuse to subject their equipment to extreme temperature swings and flooded routing. Paid rates are surging well above the $2.49/mile national average.
Phoenix, AZ β Dallas, TX: The I-10 corridor is baking under an Extreme Heat Warning, putting immense strain on temperature-controlled freight. With diesel at $5.208/gallon, the 1,000-mile transit is highly expensive to operate, and carriers are pushing back hard on standard routing guide rates.
Regional Insight
Los Angeles to Seattle needs detour pricing, not benchmark pricing
On northbound West Coast freight, brokers quoting off normal I-5 mileage are likely underestimating cost. Carriers avoiding flood-affected approaches are adding out-of-route miles, extra fuel burn, and longer dwell on the destination side, so margin protection depends on pricing the actual operating path and separating delay accessorials from linehaul instead of absorbing them into a flat rate.
Regional Insight
Phoenix reefer freight will increasingly move on a night-cycle
The most dependable capacity on Phoenix-to-Dallas is likely to load late, run overnight through the desert, and give receivers a narrower morning delivery band. That operating pattern matters as much as linehaul price right now: reefer tenders that require midday pickup or tight daytime transit assumptions are far more likely to roll.
- Late-evening shipper loading and verified pre-cool are becoming practical differentiators on produce and retail food freight.
- Sunday's stronger southwest winds in Arizona add another fuel and refrigeration draw on west-to-east desert runs.
π¨ Actionable Alerts
Rate Spike Warnings:
- Outbound Seattle/Spokane (Flood disruptions)
- Outbound Los Angeles/Phoenix (Extreme heat & fuel)
- Inbound East Coast Ports (Ocean shipping diversions)
Capacity Shortage Alerts:
- Critical shortages of Reefer equipment in the Southwest (AZ/CA) due to heat, and severe shortages of Heavy Haul/Flatbed in the Pacific Northwest due to flooded routing.
Opportunity Zones:
- Short-haul port drayage in the Southeast
- Partial/LTL consolidation on transcontinental lanes
- Night-transit reefer loads out of the Southwest
π― Strategic Recommendations for Today
πΌ For Customer Sales:
Narrative: Educate customers on the 'Triple Threat' currently hitting the market: $5.20+ diesel, extreme Southwest heat, and Pacific Northwest flooding. Emphasize that routing guides will fail and ETA provides the reliable, vetted capacity needed to navigate these disruptions.
Action: Proactively reach out to all customers with West Coast freight to adjust transit time expectations and secure pre-approvals for emergency fuel surcharges.
π For Carrier Reps:
Sourcing Focus: Aggressively source and lock in reefer capacity in the Southwest and team drivers willing to navigate the Pacific Northwest. Prioritize carriers with verified, clean FMCSA Clearinghouse records.
Negotiation Leverage: Use the 17.3% drop in available weekend loads to negotiate better base rates, while offering fair, transparent fuel surcharges to build long-term carrier loyalty in a tough fuel environment.
Strategic Insight
Speed approvals by unbundling the premium
Quotes are more likely to get approved when the premium is broken into fuel, heat/flood risk, and transit-delay exposure instead of presented as a single inflated linehaul. That framing gives shippers a clearer reason for the increase and protects brokerage margin if one cost element worsens after tender acceptance.
Strategic Takeaways
High-Signal Additions
- Treat the weekend load drop as deferred demand, not real loosening; Monday replacement rates are likely to open firmer in the West.
- Price West Coast lanes off actual routable miles and probable dwell, especially into Washington.
- For Southwest reefers, align appointments to night-running patterns or expect more roll risk and higher buy-side costs.
- Reconfirm carrier identity, assigned driver, and equipment closer to pickup as Clearinghouse-related fallout increases tender volatility.
π Executive Signal Summary
This is a smaller board, but not a softer market.
- Total available loads are 152,178, down 17.3% from 183,929.
- Market average rate is still $2.49/mile, up from $2.47/mile yesterday, with diesel at $5.208/gallon.
- That combination tells you the market is shrinking faster than it is cheapening.
The hidden bullish signal is clearance quality.
- 62,807 loads moved today, which is about 41.3% of posted loads.
- That compares with roughly 36.7% yesterday and about 30.1% two days ago.
- Translation: weak freight is disappearing, but executable freight is still clearing.
Open-deck is the revenue engine again.
- Flatbed + Heavy Haul + Specialized = 115,060 loads, or about 75.6% of the board.
- Those same segments account for 51,966 moved loads, about 82.7% of moved volume.
- If your best reps are not spending most of their time on flatbed, heavy haul, and specialized, you are under-deployed.
Weekend softness is likely disguising Monday replacement pain.
- Carriers are not acting like this is a loose market.
- They are acting like fuel is too high, weather risk is too real, and Monday will pay better.
- That is especially true in Washington, California, and Arizona.
The market is splitting by equipment type.
- Flatbed and heavy haul are paying above posted.
- Van, reefer, specialized, and LTL (Less Than Truckload)/partial are clearing below posted.
- That means the broker edge today is not just rate negotiation; it is knowing where the posted board is real and where it is aspirational.
π What the board is really saying
Rate trend is structurally firmer, not just noisy.
- $2.49/mile today
- $2.47/mile yesterday
- $2.45/mile two days ago
- $2.38/mile one week ago
- $2.28/mile one month ago
- That is a steady upward slope. Fuel is raising the floor, and weather is widening lane-specific premiums.
The market opportunity pool is smaller, so broker productivity matters more.
- Market opportunity is $201.3M today, down from $251.5M yesterday.
- Fewer total shots means weak freight will waste more of your day than usual.
- Today rewards selectivity, not broad posting volume.
Shippers are likely to misread the load drop.
- Many customers will see 152,178 loads and think trucks should be easier to find.
- The better interpretation is: carriers are rejecting bad math.
- Your sales team needs to frame this as a replacement-cost market, not a volume market.
Posted-to-paid spreads reveal where the board is lying.
- Van: $2.30 posted / $2.28 paid = -$0.02/mile
- Reefer: $2.77 posted / $2.72 paid = -$0.05/mile
- Flatbed: $2.82 posted / $2.85 paid = +$0.03/mile
- Heavy Haul: $2.84 posted / $2.88 paid = +$0.04/mile
- Specialized: $2.72 posted / $2.44 paid = -$0.28/mile
- LTL/Partial: $1.69 posted / $1.55 paid = -$0.14/mile
What that means tactically:
- Open-deck freight is still paying for execution.
- On flatbed and heavy haul, do not negotiate against yourself.
- Clean freight with real specs is still commanding a premium.
- Closed-deck freight is more selective than tight.
- On van and reefer, the market is not collapsing.
- It is simply refusing to pay for sloppy freight, bad windows, poor facilities, and long fuel exposure.
- Specialized posted numbers are especially misleading.
- A -$0.28/mile spread usually means the board is full of freight that looks premium until the details show up.
- Do not quote specialized off the post. Quote it off the actual spec sheet.
π° Where the best margins are today
1) Flatbed is still the cleanest blend of size, velocity, and pricing
- 65,455 available loads
- 28,003 loads moved
- $2.85/mile paid
- Best use case: construction, industrial, machinery, steel, and site-ready freight with full loading details.
- Broker move: source capacity before the customer asks for βbest and final.β This is a pre-cover market, not a last-minute market.
2) Heavy haul is a premium market, but only for disciplined operators
- 33,058 available loads
- 16,522 loads moved
- $2.88/mile paid
- The volume moved is telling you there is real money changing hands early.
- Broker move: build quotes with separate buffers for
- fuel,
- routing/permitting friction,
- flood-related detours,
- extra transit time.
- If you flatten that into one number, you will either lose the load or eat the miss.
3) Specialized is the biggest trap for lazy pricing
- 16,547 available loads
- 7,441 loads moved
- $2.44/mile paid versus $2.72/mile posted
- That spread screams one thing: posted hope, paid reality.
- Broker move: push hard for
- true dimensions,
- handling requirements,
- loading method,
- unloading method,
- escort or route restrictions.
- The broker who gets spec clarity first will buy this freight better than the broker who just βworks harder.β
4) Reefer is a service-risk market disguised as a rate market
- 7,832 available loads
- 2,402 loads moved
- $2.72/mile paid
- Heat across Arizona and California means the real risk is not just linehaul.
- It is:
- reefer runtime,
- pre-cool compliance,
- daytime loading stress,
- higher breakdown probability,
- claim severity if the process slips.
- Broker move: pay for night-cycle execution, not just more miles.
- Late-evening pickups
- verified pre-cool
- morning delivery windows
- reefer fuel confirmation
- breakdown escalation plan
5) Van is not weak; it is becoming quality-sensitive
- 20,837 available loads
- 4,459 loads moved
- $2.28/mile paid
- With diesel at $5.208/gallon, carriers are screening van freight harder on:
- deadhead,
- dwell,
- reload probability,
- trip length,
- route friction.
- Broker move: focus on
- short-to-medium haul,
- dense reload corridors,
- one-pick/one-drop,
- fast-turn facilities.
- Long-haul van that depends on βaverage marketβ math is dangerous today.
6) LTL/Partial is your margin valve when full truckload math breaks
- 8,449 available loads
- 3,980 loads moved
- $1.55/mile paid
- Broker move: actively consolidate where customers are resisting full-truckload fuel costs.
- Best fit today:
- retail overflow,
- auto parts replenishment,
- agricultural inputs,
- port-related short-haul overflow.
π¦οΈ Weather-to-rate conversion for the next 24β72 hours
Washington flooding should be priced as turn-time damage, not just transit delay
- The most important disruption is likely facility access, local approaches, industrial parks, and first/last mile performance.
- Mainline conditions can improve before execution actually improves.
- Broker action:
- verify shipper and receiver access directly,
- widen appointment windows,
- quote detention and layover separately,
- avoid fixed transit promises into flood-touched Washington freight.
Southwest heat should be priced as operating stress
- Heat up to 108 degrees is a mechanical and operational cost issue.
- Reefer units burn harder, trucks idle more, drivers want nighttime patterns, and breakdown exposure rises.
- Broker action:
- quote daytime desert reefer more aggressively than nighttime freight,
- ask for night loading flexibility,
- require pre-cool confirmation before dispatch,
- avoid accepting tight midday pickup assumptions unless priced accordingly.
Indiana flooding remains a facility-verification issue
- This is not a blanket Midwest rate event.
- It is a localized access and detour problem.
- Broker action: call the site, not just the customer rep.
πΊοΈ Regional playbook for today
π² Pacific Northwest: buy inbound carefully, sell outbound firmly
- Flood conditions around Snohomish County mean outbound Washington freight still deserves a premium.
- Smart tactic: pair any inbound truck with an outbound reload before confirming either side.
- Avoid: promising normal transit on Seattle-area freight just because a customer cites normal mileage.
π΄ Los Angeles to Seattle: use detour pricing, not benchmark pricing
- This lane has both origin heat stress and destination flood drag.
- Broker action:
- quote actual routable miles,
- separate linehaul from delay exposure,
- build in destination-side dwell protection,
- shorten quote validity.
- If you price this like a normal I-5 move, you are volunteering your margin.
π΅ Phoenix to Dallas reefer: operational fit matters more than the headline rate
- This freight will cover best on a night-cycle.
- Broker action:
- favor late-evening loading,
- insist on pre-cool confirmation,
- align receivers to early delivery windows where possible,
- warn customers that midday pickup requests materially increase roll risk.
π’ East and Gulf Coast ports: keep trucks within reach
- Ocean schedule instability is creating bursts of drayage, transload, and urgent inland repositioning.
- Broker action: position reliable regional capacity near ports and inland transload points, especially where customers need quick turns rather than lowest cost.
π§ The behavioral edge most brokers will miss
Customers will anchor to the load drop.
- They will assume fewer loads means cheaper trucks.
- Your advantage is to explain that fewer posted loads with higher rates means freight is being repriced, not discounted.
Carriers are making survival decisions, not market-share decisions.
- At $5.208/gallon diesel, small carriers are not asking, βCan I move?β
- They are asking:
- βWill this trip make cash?β
- βCan I reload?β
- βWill weather kill my turn time?β
- βWill I get stuck with unpaid delay?β
- If you address those questions up front, you will cover faster than brokers still selling βgood volume.β
Posted reefer and specialized rates are likely to bait inexperienced brokers today.
- The temptation is to assume high posted numbers mean you must overpay.
- Not true.
- The better move is to buy precision:
- better appointment design,
- clearer specs,
- verified equipment condition,
- stronger carrier trust.
π€ Customer sales posture that will win today
With West Coast customers
- Message: βThis is a fuel-plus-weather replacement market. If the load matters, it should be covered before Monday.β
- Ask for:
- approval for fuel surcharge,
- transit flexibility,
- detention/layover language,
- night-loading options where relevant.
With cost-sensitive shippers
- Message: βThe cheapest quote is the one most likely to fail on Monday.β
- Use unbundled pricing:
- base linehaul,
- fuel surcharge (FSC),
- heat/flood premium,
- delay exposure.
- That framing gets approvals faster than one inflated all-in number.
With manufacturing and project accounts
- Message: βSpec completeness is your best rate lever.β
- Require before quoting:
- dimensions,
- weight,
- securement needs,
- loading method,
- unloading method,
- appointment flexibility.
With agricultural and produce customers
- Message: βIn this heat, process discipline matters as much as price.β
- Offer:
- night pickups,
- stricter setpoint confirmation,
- partial-consolidation alternatives where feasible,
- realistic delivery windows.
π Carrier desk tactics for maximizing today
1) Re-rank your call list toward trusted open-deck and heat-capable reefer carriers
- Start with carriers who have already proven they can handle:
- difficult routing,
- weekend execution,
- tight communication,
- clean paperwork,
- stable equipment.
2) Sell trip quality before rate
- Lead with:
- one pick / one drop,
- quick load times,
- reload path,
- realistic appointment windows,
- customer flexibility.
- In this diesel environment, clean trips beat messy premium trips.
3) Use fuel transparency as a relationship tool
- Do not pretend fuel is background noise at $5.208/gallon.
- Carriers know when a broker is hiding behind old math.
- Separate the fuel component and you will win more trust on repeat lanes.
4) Reconfirm closer to pickup than usual
- With the fraudulent SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) clearing issue and rising compliance/fraud pressure, execution risk is elevated.
- Same-day falloff risk is real.
- Reconfirm:
- dispatch contact,
- truck number,
- trailer type,
- driver assignment,
- pickup commitment.
5) On reefer, ask operational questions that weaker brokers skip
- Confirm:
- pre-cool,
- setpoint,
- reefer fuel level,
- unit service condition,
- breakdown escalation contact,
- seal process.
- The cheapest reefer is often the most expensive claim.
π‘οΈ Risk controls that matter more than usual
π¨ Fraud and negligent selection risk
- Premium freight attracts bad actors.
- Today, tighten checks on:
- authority consistency,
- insurance match,
- phone/email consistency,
- last-minute dispatch changes,
- unapproved driver swaps.
- On premium or sensitive freight, document why the carrier was selected.
π Weather execution risk
- Do not bury weather risk inside linehaul.
- Quote separately for:
- detention,
- layover,
- extra stop delay,
- route deviation,
- missed-appointment exposure.
β½ Margin risk
- Reprice any uncovered load that is:
- older than 24 hours,
- long-haul,
- West Coast,
- reefer,
- heavy haul,
- port-related,
- weather-touched.
- Quote validity should be shorter than usual.
πΈ Carrier solvency risk
- Cash-strained carriers will accept freight they cannot execute.
- Favor:
- known fleets,
- stable insurance,
- consistent dispatch behavior,
- clean communication.
- Use fuel advances selectively only with proven carriers where it secures real capacity.
π Probability-weighted 24β72 hour outlook
π’ Base case β 55%
- The market stays firm with lane-specific spikes.
- Average pricing remains supported around current levels, open-deck stays strongest, and van/reefer remain selective rather than loose.
- Best posture: cover must-have freight early and keep quotes short-lived.
π Stress case β 30%
- Monday opens materially firmer in the West.
- Deferred weekend freight, flood drag, desert heat, and fuel pressure create a replacement-cost jump on California, Arizona, and Washington-related freight.
- Best posture: pre-cover now, especially on reefer and weather-exposed long-haul.
π΅ Relief case β 15%
- Some inland van, LTL/partial, and clean specialized freight clears below the posted board.
- This is not broad market relief; it is tactical relief for disciplined brokers.
- Best posture: press only where freight is clean, reload-friendly, and facility risk is low.
β
Highest-value actions before mid-day
- Reprice every uncovered West Coast, reefer, and long-haul load older than 24 hours.
- Push at least half of your best carrier-sales time toward flatbed and heavy haul.
- Separate fuel, weather, and delay premiums in every sensitive quote.
- Cover Monday-critical California, Arizona, and Washington freight today if the shipment matters.
- Use LTL/partial as a cost-relief valve where customers reject full-truckload fuel math.
- Call facilities directly in flood-touched Washington and Indiana before promising firm service.
- For Phoenix and Southern California reefer, redesign appointments around night loading when possible.
- Reconfirm carrier identity, driver, and equipment closer to pickup than usual.
π§ Bottom line
- The board is thinner, but the executable market is healthier than it looks.
- 152,178 loads, 62,807 moved, $2.49/mile average, and $5.208/gallon diesel point to a market where discipline beats optimism.
- Open-deck is the biggest revenue pool.
- Reefer is the biggest service-risk pool.
- Van is selective, not soft.
- Specialized rewards detail, not speed.
- Monday is more likely to punish hesitation than reward it.
π
This Day in History
630: Emperor Heraclius returns the True Cross, one of the holiest Christian relics, to Jerusalem.
1934: The landmark Australian Eastern Mission led by John Latham departs on its three-month tour of East and South-East Asia.
1983: The first cases of the 1983 West Bank fainting epidemic begin; Israelis and Palestinians accuse each other of poison gas, but the cause is later determined mostly to be psychosomatic.
π Quote of the Day
"The truth is simple. If it was complicated, everyone would understand it."
β Walt Whitman
