Freight Pulse & Law Update: China–US Air Rates Jump 19% in a Week as CBP Sets a Rail Export Manifest Deadline

Air rates jumped in a single week; CBP’s rail export manifest rule takes effect Oct. 26. Reprice November U.S. air quotes now.

What do the rate signals mean?

The Freightos Air Index put China–North America at $6.88/kg, up 19% in the week of Oct. 21, and China–North Europe up 8% to $3.87/kg. At sea, about 63% of Asia–Europe capacity is back on Suez, with blank sailings set to pull roughly 10% out through November, per Zencargo.

What do the CBP filing changes require?

CBP’s ACE rail EEM rule covers exports to Canada and Mexico. Effective Oct. 26, 2026, enforced Oct. 26, 2027. Separately, postal formal-entry compliance for PGA, Chapter 98/99 and FTA claims slips from Oct. 22, 2026, to Jan. 20, 2027; shipments up to $2,500 may use voluntary Entry Type 13. The de minimis suspension still stands.

• File seven mandatory data elements 24 hours before train departure from the U.S. port of export.

• Submit remaining cargo and manifest data two hours before departure.

• Keep a basic importation, custodial or international carrier bond on file.

FMCSA’s waiver, expanded Oct. 14 through Dec. 16, lets eligible interstate fuel haulers run 16 hours in 24, covering gasoline, diesel and ethanol; heating oil qualifies only in split loads capped at 75% of volume.

FlowOps dashboard view: SKU-level inventory and activity visibility.

Mid-Atlantic / I-95 regional | Oct. 22

Delaware: southbound I-95 from the Toll Plaza to the Maryland line loses a lane at 7 p.m. and two from 9 p.m.–7 a.m., E-ZPass lanes closed; the SR 896 ramp stays narrowed. Pennsylvania: a lane drops 9 p.m.–5 a.m. on southbound I-95 at Christian–Front and Wanamaker Avenue, and the Castor Avenue ramp closes 9 p.m.–7 a.m. Check DelDOT and PennDOT advisories before dispatch.

No CVSA-wide brake event runs in October; Brake Safety Week ran in August. El Paso began brake-focused inspections Oct. 20 after a fatal brake-failure crash. Keep adjustment and chamber checks current.

Lanta Logistics runs 3PL Maryland and Mid-Atlantic fulfillment for shippers who need filings right and docks loading on time. FlowOps by Lanta, our operator-built WMS, gives third party logistics providers real-time visibility for 3PL fulfillment services and inventory management for ecommerce: unlimited SKUs, 20+ modules, patent-pending Agentic AI, $99/month flat. Compare plans.