Stakeholders are hopeful as trucking rates rise in many parts of the country. Following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, a legal challenge to the de minimis exemption is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles had its second-busiest February ever, though volumes were 5% lower than the same time last year.
On the consumer side, new data from the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor confirmed that Americans continued to spend last year. They were just more deliberate about where those dollars went. And in truckload contracting, shippers are struggling to vet the people actually hauling their freight as regulatory pressure and cargo theft both rise.
We have compiled some of the key stories shaping the freight world this month. Continue reading to find out more.
Diesel Spikes, Tightening Capacity Push Trucking Rates Higher
After almost four years of a freight recession, it looks like the U.S. trucking market is finally starting to turn a corner. Since winter storms disrupted operations in January and February, spot rates have remained high, especially along the East Coast and in the Midwest. Also, with the continuing conflict in the Middle East, fuel prices are piling on pressure. Diesel prices rose 96 cents per gallon just in the week ending March 9.
That is the largest seven-day increase since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began tracking the data in 1994. Carrier bankruptcies and the Trump administration’s crackdown on non-domiciled drivers and CDL mills are also tightening capacity. Drew Herpich of Nolan Transportation Group said that routing guides are starting to show signs of trouble for the first time in about three years.
De Minimis Exemption Faces Legal Battle
After the Supreme Court threw out a lot of Trump-era tariffs in a related case, the U.S. Court of International Trade lifted a stay on Axle of Dearborn, Inc. v. Department of Commerce. Detroit Axle, a company that sells and distributes auto parts, says the executive branch lacks the power to eliminate the de minimis provision.
According to Detroit Axle, IEEPA, the 1977 law at the center of the Supreme Court’s recent decision, did not give the president the power to revoke statutory tariff exemptions. The company also said that although the law signed last year would phase out de minimis, the July 2027 start date would give businesses time to adjust. The court has told the government to respond by March 26.
Port of LA Records Second-Busiest February
The Port of Los Angeles handled 824,323 TEUs in February. This was a 3% increase from the same month last year and the second-busiest February in the port’s history. Executive Director Gene Seroka said the high volume was due to retailers and manufacturers moving cargo ahead of the Lunar New Year factory closures in Asia.
Loaded imports went up 5% to 433,812 TEUs, and loaded exports increased 7% to 116,633 TEUs. Empty containers, often a sign of future shipments, fell by 2%. The Port of LA has handled 1,636,324 TEUs so far this year, which is still 5% less than the same time last year. Seroka predicted that traffic would remain the same in March and then rise in April.
Consumer Spending in 2025: Not a Pullback But a Recalibration
The 2025 CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor has provided a clear picture of how American shoppers behaved last year. Although they kept spending, they became more picky. For instance, the purchasing of food and drink, health and personal care, and other basic needs remained the same across all income levels throughout the year. Meanwhile, discretionary categories told a less clear story.
In almost every month, sales of building and garden supplies declined, and sales of furniture and home goods declined significantly. This suggests that people were still being careful about buying big, expensive things that would take a long time to pay off.
Shippers Rethink Carrier Vetting as Regulatory and Theft Risks Mount
Truckload shippers negotiating contracts for 2026 are having a hard time figuring out how to address the growing risks posed by the federal crackdown on non-domiciled CDL holders, English language proficiency rules, and a rise in strategic cargo theft. Knight-Swift said on its Q4 earnings call that some shippers are moving freight from non-asset brokers to asset-owning carriers.
However, not everyone is worried. Companies that ship large, heavy items with enough safety stock don’t feel as much pressure as those that ship electronics or food and drinks with short delivery windows.
Stable Freight Operations With Zengistics
Zengistics is a company that prioritizes shippers’ peace of mind above all else. Our goal is to achieve scalable growth and offer personalized solutions to optimize your supply chain nationwide. At Zengistics, we leverage technology to ensure that and more. We offer tailored transportation, visibility and transparency, predictive analysis, and dynamic route optimization. Speak to one of our experts today.
