Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026:
- Fuel prices reverse course after significant declines.
- Intermodal haulers, have you been restricted from chassis-provider choice at ports? Maritime Commission wants to know.
- ATA’s request to continue under-21 hiring opening for comments.
Diesel prices back on upswing as rates continue post-holiday decline
All it took was two weeks of increases to erase more than a third of the late-2025 and early-2026 price drops at the pump for truck owners, according to the Energy Information Administration’s latest report.
A 7.1-cent increase during the week ending Jan. 19, followed by a 9.4-cent increase during the most recent week, brought fuel prices’ national average back up to $3.62 per gallon from the $3.46 low earlier this month. Fuel prices peaked in 2025 in late November at $3.87 a gallon.
Spot rates during the most recent week ending Jan. 23 -- before winter storms hit much of the U.S. -- showed further rates moderation, as expected following the holiday surge. That's according to analysis from Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence. The winter storm this past weekend, however, is expected to drive up spot rates for dry van and, especially, refrigerated equipment.
FTR and Truckstop.com reported dry van rates falling 5 cents last week from the week prior and reefer rates falling 3 cents, while flatbed spot rates increased by a penny. The total market broker-posted rate barely changed, ticking up three tenths of a cent after decreases in the first two weeks of the year.FTR and Truckstop.com
Here's a look at the three major equipment types from Truckstop.com/FTR analysis:
The most recent week saw diesel increases in all regions across the country, led by the West Coast minus California, where prices were up an average 16.2 cents/gal.
The cheapest diesel is in the Gulf Coast region at $3.33/gal, while the most expensive fuel is in California at $4.71.
Prices in other regions, according to EIA:
- New England -- $4.02
- Central Atlantic -- $3.88
- Lower Atlantic -- $3.59
- Midwest -- $3.58
- Rocky Mountain -- $3.37
- West Coast less California -- $3.94
ProMiles’ diesel averages during the same week jumped 6 cents to $3.51/gallon nationwide. According to the ProMiles Fuel Surcharge Index, the most expensive diesel can be found in California at $4.80/gallon, the cheapest in the Rocky Mountain region at $3.18/gallon.
[Related: Double brokering, freight fraud: Just how bad is it out there?]
FMC opens investigation into ocean carriers possibly violating chassis-choice regs
The Federal Maritime Commission announced Jan. 26 that it’s opening an investigation into potential non-compliance with the Shipping Act by ocean carriers who may be “unjustly and unreasonably restricting” trucking companies and shippers in their choice of chassis providers.
Through its investigation, FMC is looking “to determine whether ocean common carriers are using practices that directly or indirectly deprive truckers and shippers from negotiating and dealing with chassis providers.”
Any practices, including ocean common carrier rules, service contracts or other means, that restrict truckers from dealing with chassis providers may violate section 41102(c) of the Shipping Act, FMC noted. Rules and practices that restrict truckers and shippers to the ocean common carriers' designated chassis provider have been found to be unreasonable under the regulation.
As part of its investigation, FMC is requesting information from motor carriers, shippers and other transportation service providers, as well as the public, in “identifying restrictions, practices, or tactics of any kind imposed by ocean common carriers on chassis provider selections or negotiations for chassis usage.“ FMC is asking for information about whether such practices and restrictions are currently occurring, how they are being implemented or imposed, and how they are affecting or restricting truckers' or shippers' ability to independently select, negotiate and deal with chassis providers. Specific information FMC is requesting can be seen here.
Comments can be filed here through March 27.
The Commission is conducting this non-adjudicatory investigation pursuant to its oversight authority of ocean common carriers’ operations and dealings with shippers under service contracts. The Shipping Act prohibits ocean common carriers from refusing cargo space accommodations when available or resorting to “other unfair or unjustly discriminatory methods.”
[Related: Intermodal haulers fight off 'system collapse' at ports]
FMCSA opens comment period for ATA’s request for under-21 truckers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration seeks comments on a request from the American Trucking Associations that would allow motor carriers that participated in the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program to continue onboarding under-21 truck drivers to haul interstate despite the expiration of the program.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in December penned a letter to FMCSA urging the agency to reject the request.
The SDAP ended Nov. 7, and ATA’s request, if granted, would allow motor carriers that previously participated in it to train and use 18-20-year-old truck drivers in interstate operations.
In its request, ATA said the program’s quarterly reports “demonstrate positive safety outcomes, including millions of miles driven by program participants without reportable crashes.” The group added that it believes that continuing to allow carriers to onboard under-21 drivers would create minimal administrative burdens for FMCSA or participating motor carriers.
FMCSA will accept public comments on ATA’s request for 30 days beginning Wednesday, Jan. 28 at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA- 2025-1117.
[Related: OOIDA calls on FMCSA to reject request to renew under-21 trucker pilot program]
