Freight Pulse & Law Update: Truckload Volumes Slide 15% Post-Labor Day as Broker Transparency Heads to OMB

Evening edition — September 9, 2026

Are lower truckload volumes finally easing the market?

Short answer: not yet. FreightWaves SONAR STVI fell approximately 15% after Labor Day, but the National Truckload Index held at $3.44 per mile, up 47% year over year. Tender rejections eased only slightly to just above 14%, while reefer rejections stayed above 20%, nearly 10 points higher than van at 12.35%.

Diesel adds another cost floor. The EIA national average reached approximately $5.60 per gallon, up nearly 10% week over week. Intermodal contract rates rose 3.5% to $1.80 per mile, while AAR rail traffic data showed total U.S. volume up 13.8% for the week ending September 5.

The signal is clear: rates are not following volumes down. Pricing elasticity is near zero, so any capacity tightening — especially in temperature-controlled freight — converts quickly into higher rates.

What should shippers do before mid-October?

• Lock truckload RFQs before the next seasonal tightening.

• Secure reefer capacity and validate fuel-surcharge formulas.

• Compare intermodal conversion by lane, service level, and dwell risk.

• Use real-time visibility to identify rejected tenders, delays, and cost variance.

FlowOps by Lanta connects warehouse management system and logistics software functions across inventory, dispatch, and delivery. That visibility supports third party logistics providers, inventory management for ecommerce, 3PL fulfillment services, and supply chain management companies managing multiple touchpoints.

Which compliance deadlines matter now?

FMCSA’s broker-transparency proposal reached White House OMB/OIRA review on August 27 under RIN 2126-AC63. The text is not public; publication in the Federal Register would begin another comment period. FMCSA is also planning expanded Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse access.

UCR 2027 fees rise approximately 20% beginning October 1, 2026, with bracket increases ranging from $9 to $9,329. The pending BUILD America 250 Act could also affect DataQs, broker qualification standards, and hair-testing policy before the September 30 authorization deadline.

The latest CVSA Brake Safety Week focus reinforces the same message: review carrier maintenance, qualification, and documentation before capacity gets tighter.

Key takeaways

• Volume fell, but pricing did not.

• Reefer capacity remains the largest immediate risk.

• Lock RFQs and review UCR and broker-compliance exposure now.

For 3PL Maryland, Mid-Atlantic fulfillment, food-grade warehouse, and Hazmat certified 3PL support, contact Lanta Logistics for structured execution and real-time supply chain visibility.

Sources:FreightWaves · EIA · CCJ · TT · Federal Register UCR rule