April 2nd, 2026
A Year After Liberation Day, Experts Review the Costs of Trump's Tariffs
Five trade experts assess a bruising year: soybean exports to China are down 78%, corn exports have nearly disappeared, and court challenges now threaten the administration’s ability to collect future tariff revenues. For importers and exporters, this legal uncertainty piles onto already disrupted trade relationships with no clear resolution in sight.
Iran War: Diesel Price Surge Forces Change in U.S. Freight Markets
Diesel has hit $5.375 per gallon, a three-year high driven by Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, prompting carriers to cut deadhead miles, reduce highway speeds, and walk away from unprofitable loads. That supply tightening has pushed dry van spot rates to $2.34 per mile and flatbed to $2.80, shifting leverage back toward carriers for the first time in years.
US Logistics Update: Iran War and Global Energy Shock Reshape Freight Outlook
Gulf crude production has dropped to 40% of pre-war levels, and the OECD is projecting U.S. inflation at 4.2% for 2026, compounding pressure on a freight market already heading into a seasonally tight Q2. April’s typical capacity contraction is amplifying what was already a stressed supply chain environment.
What's Changing in Ocean Freight for 2026
Dimerco’s industry briefing identifies three structural shifts reshaping ocean shipping: de minimis exemptions have been stripped from many low-value imports, enforcement of Southeast Asian transshipment rerouting has tightened significantly, and demand has shifted rather than disappeared across major trade lanes. Shippers who built their ocean freight strategies around flexible routing assumptions are being forced to start over.
U.S. Bank and DAT: Truck Freight Rates Show Modest Uptick in Early 2026
Spot rates climbed from $1.65 per mile in November to $2.01 per mile in February, a 22% recovery from mid-2025 lows, but the gap between spot and contract rates has compressed to just $0.11 per mile. Shippers relying on contract pricing now have very little buffer to absorb any sudden tightening in the market.
Nearshoring, Tariffs, and Geopolitical Shocks Reshape North America's Trucking Outlook for 2026
Cross-border freight is being squeezed from multiple directions: tariff-driven demand reductions, oil-driven fuel inflation, and a manufacturing recovery that has stalled well below expectations. Carriers are navigating simultaneous margin pressure on all fronts, with analysts projecting only gradual normalization by mid-2026.
