Highway programs extended to Dec. 11 as used-truck sales climb 10.6%

Congress gave the freight system a reprieve on Sept. 1, passing a short-term measure that funds the federal government into early December and extends expiring surface transportation programs through Dec. 11 -- pushing back a Sept. 30 cliff. ([Transport Topics](https://www.ttnews.com/articles/house-extends-highway-funding))

For anyone weighing new equipment, the used-truck market is moving the right way. ACT Research reported July used-truck sales rose 10.6% year over year to 26,100 units, and 4.8% from June, a sign demand for iron is firming even with freight rates still soft. ([Transport Topics](https://www.ttnews.com/articles/used-truck-sales-july))

The demand side is more mixed. U.S. manufacturing growth slowed in August and stayed only barely in expansion, with the ISM survey flagging "warning signs" -- and the freight that fills dry vans starts on those factory floors. ([Trucking Dive](https://www.truckingdive.com/news/us-manufacturing-slowed-august-ism-pmi/829328/))

Fuel policy moved north of the border: Canada extended its fuel excise-tax suspension to Jan. 31, 2027, holding pump prices down for anyone running Canadian lanes. ([Transport Topics](https://www.ttnews.com/articles/canada-extends-fuel-tax-break))

If you are rolling this week, expect scrutiny. Enforcement blitzes across six states placed at least 99 drivers out of service -- reason enough to sort your logs and pre-trip before the scale house does it for you. ([FreightWaves](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-truck-blitzes-uncover-thousands-of-safety-violations-place-99-drivers-out-of-service))

One firm corner in the rate data: refrigerated produce averaged $4.21 a mile in the week to Aug. 25, up 1.8% on the week and nearly 15% on the year -- still the segment holding up while the dry freight indices drift. That figure is produce-only and an unweighted mean across whichever lanes were active that week, so treat the lane table as more telling than the headline average.