Freight Pulse & Law Update: Spot Rates Flatten but Capacity Stays Tight as CBP Delays Mail Entry Rules to January

Why are trucking spot rates flattening while capacity stays tight?

Truckload capacity is tightening ahead of the holiday peak, even with moderate demand. ACT Research and FTR put active truck utilization near 99%; FTR expects only a gradual decline to about 96% by 2027.

FTR’s latest all-in spot rates were about $2.86 per mile for dry van, up 45.2% year over year, and $3.54 for reefer. It forecasts 2027 spot-rate growth of 3.2% for dry van and 1.3% for reefer, after much larger 2026 gains. As FTR’s outlook suggests, flattening is not a signal that rates will quickly fall. English-proficiency enforcement has sidelined roughly 30,000 drivers over the past year, with another 28,000 projected at the current pace. Secure contract capacity before Q4 constraints tighten further.

What changes with CBP’s Entry Type 13 delay?

CBP moved mandatory Entry Type 13 filing for certain international mail shipments from October 22, 2026, to January 20, 2027. Affected informal entries subject to Section 201, 232, or 301 duties, or Partner Government Agency oversight, must be filed electronically in ACE, with a basic importation bond. Shipments without Entry Type 13 require formal entry. Filers may use the process voluntarily during the transition, according to CBP’s announcement.

This is not a return of de minimis: the exemption for shipments under $800 remains suspended. CBP is separately accepting comments through December 7 on tighter informal low-value entry rules.

What should shippers do now?

• Lock in truckload capacity, review carrier options, and prepare ACE and broker workflows ahead of January 20.

• With spot growth flattening in 2027 but utilization staying near historic highs, treat contract rates as protection, not a discount.

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