Freight rates climb across every segment but flatbed; diesel splits $1.86 by region

The freight-rate recovery widened to nearly every segment this week, and the fuel map split far enough by region to be worth routing around. Two things a carrier can act on, plus one deadline and one court fight.

**Rates are rising almost everywhere — and that is real.** Our producer-price indexes for August put less-than-truckload up 4.5% on the month to 306.8, general freight up 2.6%, and dry van truckload up 1.9% to 207.6 — 13.9% above a year ago. Only flatbed and specialized slipped, off 0.8%. Transport Topics reports LTL shipment weights kept climbing through the third quarter as the market recovers, and Truckstop and FTR note dry van spot rates edged higher again last week. If you run van or LTL, the pricing environment is finally moving your way.

**Diesel eased in the South while California ran the other way.** EIA's survey for the week of Aug. 31 put the national average down 0.9% to $5.599 a gallon. The Gulf Coast fell hardest — down 2.2% to $5.360 — while California climbed 2.5% to $7.218. That is a $1.86 gap, roughly $279 on a 150-gallon fill, so a southern fuel stop is worth planning around. Read it as direction, not as the pump price you will pay: national diesel is still 49.9% higher than a year ago. Every region is on our fuel page.

**The non-domiciled CDL rule heads back to court.** Land Line reports FMCSA will again have to defend parts of its non-domiciled CDL final rule — the second challenge in under a week.

**Cross-border shippers face a Sept. 18 deadline.** Trucking Dive reports CBP will void the right to bring merchandise into the U.S. for shippers whose customs information is inaccurate, effective Sept. 18. If you haul from the border, confirm your brokers' paperwork is clean before the load moves.