Tallies, totals and other trend data in the freight transportation realm (10/7/2026)

-8.1
In July, FTR’s Shippers Index declined to -8.1 from June’s -5.4 reading primarily due to rising fuel costs, FTR officials reported on Sept. 17, adding that “soaring diesel prices in August and September” would push the index “deeper into negative territory.” Said FTR Vice President of Trucking Avery Vise: “There’s nothing positive for shippers in the near term as freight-related factors — especially rates and utilization — are still unfavorable and diesel prices have surged to a record level, far surpassing the 2022 peak.”

0.5
Trucking activity in the United States decreased 0.5% in August after falling 1.2% in July, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index. “The truck market has certainly flipped this year, but recent tonnage levels confirm this is due to reduced capacity, not robust demand,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello on Sept. 22. “Truck tonnage was down in four of the last five months. It is down 4.3% from the recent peak in March, and it has fallen from year-earlier levels in three of the last four months. Because of all the supply constraints, however, the market is generally better.”

1
"We are hearing the negative reaction from Union Pacific's competitors and disagree with their claims. Shintech is offering this letter of support because it believes that the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will enhance competition and yield significant benefits for us. A single line service offers more direct rail routes, optionality and flexibility that Shintech can provide to its customers. From a safety perspective, rail remains one of the most secure modes for transporting hazardous materials. By eliminating the interchanges, this results in a safer and faster transportation product from fewer handoffs which we see clear benefits for the chemical industry. This proposed merger would expand our market reach and create opportunities to serve customers and markets that are not economically accessible today." — Y. Saitoh, president of polyvinyl chloride producer Shintech Inc., in an Oct. 2 letter to Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs expressing support for the proposed Union Pacific Railroad-Norfolk Southern Railway merger. UP transports 100% of Shintech's rail traffic from three production facilities.

1, 54 & 80
In August, Port Houston handled 373,756 20-foot equivalent units, up 1% compared with the same 2025 period, the port announced last week. For the year’s first eight months, container volume also was up 1%. Biggest increase: steel imports, up 54% year over year. Biggest decline: dry bulk exports, down 80% year over year.

3
For 2026’s first six months, overall cargo volumes for the Port of Vancouver hit a record 88.1 million metric tons, up 3% compared with the same 2025 period, the port announced on Sept. 21. The increase was largely due to the port delivering record volumes of Prairie grain and Alberta crude oil to Indo-Pacific markets, while exports of other commodities (including fertilizer and coal, and two-way container trade), were “largely steady,” port officials said. Meanwhile, vehicle imports and cruise operations were also robust, with both setting new half-year records, they said.

3, 4 & 10
“Where does North America's potash come from, and where does it go? Nearly all of it moves by rail, and RailState's trackside cameras measure every loaded potash train leaving Saskatchewan. So we counted. What the data shows: Roughly 3 of every 4 tons of potash spread on American farms come from Saskatchewan's 10 mines. Since March 2025, 72% of the potash leaving those mines went to export terminals and 28% to North American markets. Vancouver alone took 34% of all carloads.” — Rail network intelligence firm RailState LLC in an Sept. 25 email titled “Potash is in the headlines. Here is where it actually goes.”

5.8
For September, the New England Critical Freight Index showed overall shipment activity increased 5.8% compared with August’s activity in the region, resulting in an Overall Freight Index score of +0.5, according to 28Freight, a provider of expedited transportation and logistics solutions. Airport freight activity increased 11.3% month over month, resulting in an Airport Freight Index score of +1.0. Airport-related freight represented 24.9% of 28Freight shipment activity in September. Life sciences transportation increased 5.6% from August, resulting in a Life Sciences Index score of +0.5. Life sciences shipments represented 18.7% of September activity, 28Freight officials said.

6.53
“Diesel prices are climbing, and the impact goes well beyond what drivers see at the pump. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), at $6.53 per gallon on September 21st, the highest nominal price for diesel ever. EIA points to a combination of high crude oil prices, tight global supplies of diesel and other distillates, and low U.S. inventories driving that jump.” — from the Sept. 29 edition of The Signal, published by the Association of American Railroads

38.8 & 96.2
Analyzing Federal Railroad Administration accident records from 2000 through 2025, the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) concluded that track geometry accounted for 38.8% of derailments reported with track, roadbed and structure as the primary cause, the independent research and educational organization announced Sept. 29, citing the availability a new Aii report titled “Man/Power: Overview of the Role and Impact of Visual Inspections and Track Geometry Technology on Derailments.” Of the derailments reported with track geometry as the primary cause, 96.2% involved conditions measurable by track geometry systems, Aii officials said.

75 & 25
Tonnage for the Port of Duluth-Superior totaled 11.4 million short tons through Aug. 31, about 3.9 million tons behind the 2025 midseason pace, officials at the inland port said on Sept. 21. Lower coal shipments accounted for about 75% of that decline (2.9 million tons) as “North American energy production continued its shift away from coal-fired electricity,” a change that contributed to the closure of Superior’s Midwest Energy Resources Co. coal terminal this summer, port officials said. The remaining 25% percent of the deficit is mostly attributable to a 946,000-ton drop in iron ore shipments, port officials said. Diminished exports to Canada accounted for roughly half of Duluth-Superior’s year-over-year decline in iron ore tonnage, while domestic shipments trailed the 2025 pace by 40%.

35,620
“[A] farmer will pay $27,300 more in off road diesel and $8,320 more in on road diesel for a grand total of $35,620 more this year in diesel fuel costs.” — Soy Transportation Coalition Executive Director Mike Steenhoek in an Oct. 2 email titled “Comparison: Farmer diesel fuel expenses (2026 vs. 2025)"

5.8 billion
On Oct. 5, intermodal solutions provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. and asset-light tech-enabled transportation solutions provider RXO Inc. announced they entered into a definitive agreement under which C.H. Robinson would acquire RXO in a stock-and-cash transaction for an implied value of $5.8 billion, creating a combined company with an enterprise value of over $25 billion. Subject to customary closing conditions, the merger agreement is expected to close in 2007’s first half, C.H. Robinson officials said.