Freight Pulse & Law Update: Capacity Shrinks for a 10th Straight Month, Tender Rejections Run 3x Above 2023, and Truckers Call the Diesel Fix "Minimal Relief"

Capacity is tightening faster than freight demand. The September Logistics Managers’ Index puts transportation capacity at 34.4 — its 10th straight month of contraction, while transportation prices reached 92.7. FreightWaves/Sonar reports tender rejections near 14%, roughly three times 2023 levels.

What do the latest capacity numbers show?

• Overall LMI: 70.2; aggregate logistics costs: 246.1, the highest since April 2022.

• Warehouse capacity fell to 39.3, down 14.2 points. The fastest contraction since March 2022.

• Truckload volume is up only 9% in three years, while for-hire tractors fell approximately 51,000 in August.

• More than 202,000 CDL holders are sidelined for drug and alcohol violations. Non-domiciled CDL rules affect 194,000-plus drivers over time, while English-proficiency enforcement removes about 2,700 drivers monthly.

• Forward expectations remain tight: capacity 37.9, utilization 70.8, and pricing 86.1.

Insurance costs also rose 4%–6% early this year. Shippers should expect constrained markets through early 2027.

Does the diesel order solve the cost problem?

President Trump’s order permits tax-exempt red-dyed diesel on highways through December 2026, but trucking groups called the relief “minimal.” State tax conflicts and limited truck-stop availability remain. Benchmark diesel slid to approximately $6.199 per gallon, still historically high. POLITICO details the limits.

CVSA Brake Safety Week ran August 23–29, 2026. DOT brake and inspection standards remain in force year-round.

What should I-95 shippers watch?

The Loadstar reports 39 blank sailings through early November, while Shanghai and Ningbo congestion has removed roughly 3 million TEU of effective capacity.

Maryland, Baltimore, Glen Burnie, and the broader I-95 corridor should monitor tender failures, port drayage delays, and warehouse availability. Build backup carriers and protect inbound inventory early.

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Lanta Logistics supports 3PL fulfillment services, 3PL Maryland operations, Mid-Atlantic fulfillment, and ecommerce fulfillment solutions. Reprice vulnerable lanes, lock capacity early, and gain real-time visibility into inventory and tenders.