Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, March 31, 2026:
- Rates keeping up with diesel’s surge?
- One of nation's roughest interstates getting some work.
- More parking in Arkansas.
Fuel prices flatten, rates surge in most recent week
After three consecutive weeks of skyrocketing diesel prices that saw the national average jump well above the $5 per gallon mark, prices seemed to have leveled off, according to the latest weekly report from the Energy Information Administration.
During the most recent week ending March 30, the national average price for a gallon of on-highway diesel increased by just 2.6 cents to $5.40 per gallon.
Spot rates are also reflecting the surge in fuel. Both the total market rate and flatbed spot rates posted their largest increases ever in a non-holiday week, according to analysis from Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence for the week ended March 27.
Dry van and flatbed spot rates were the highest since the summer of 2022, even excluding the portion needed to recover fuel costs. Refrigerated spot rates were the highest since late 2022 aside from recent holiday and weather distortions.
The total market broker-posted rate rose 11.4 cents week over week to the highest level since July 2022. The increase was the largest ever in a week that did not fall in late December. Excluding a calculated fuel surcharge, rates rose 7 cents and were the strongest since July 2022. Rates were about 20% higher than in the same 2025 week all in and about 10% higher excluding a calculated fuel surcharge.
DAT Freight & Analytics' Dean Croke noted the firm's own rates analyses for this most recent week likewise showed spot linehaul rates minus fuel's impact "holding steady. The gap between rising fuel costs and flat spot rates is worth watching," he noted.
Truckers continue to respond by "cutting deadhead miles, looking for lighter loads, and slowing down" to improve efficiency, he noted, though some carriers "are also sitting on the sidelines or declining unprofitable loads, which for brokers increases the urgency of having deep carrier relationships rather than relying on transactional capacity."
The notion was echoed by Overdrive Trucker of the Year John Penn last week at the Mid-America Trucking Show. Penn operates with authority as J.P. Transport, and has experienced freight middlemen getting active in efforts to solidify relations with his business of late.
[Related: Trucker of the Year John Penn honored at MATS among owner-op peers]
Meanwhile, load postings on the spot market continued to rise, with Truckstop.com and FTR reporting a 4.1% weekly increase this past week to levels 35% higher than the same week in 2025. Truckstop.com and FTR observed a slight increase in truck postings during the same week, while DAT reported that truck posts fell across all three equipment types, with dry van, reefer, and flatbed each reaching their lowest Week 13 truck-post counts in at least 10 years of DAT data.
DAT analyst Dean Croke pointed to other data suggesting good conditions, such as manufacturing Purchasing Managers Indices (PMI). The PMI he's tracking "jumped into expansionary territory this year," he said. "New orders -- a key indicator for freight volumes -- was a big component. If PMI growth continues, it would mean a fuel shock is hitting the market just as freight volumes are recovering."
With any luck, it could lead to a "situation that could keep rates elevated even if fuel moderates," he said.
Diesel prices indeed in some areas of the country actually fell on average during the most recent week, while other parts of the country continued to see prices soar.
The Midwest region banked a 5.5-cent decline last week, while the Gulf Coast region declined 2.9 cents. Prices in the Lower Atlantic were flat during the week.
California, on the other hand, saw a 34.9-cent jump in prices, which blew past the $7/gallon average in the state.
Diesel prices by region, according to EIA:
- New England -- $5.83
- Central Atlantic -- $5.83
- Lower Atlantic -- $5.39
- Midwest -- $5.11
- Gulf Coast -- $5.11
- Rocky Mountain -- $5.27
- West Coast less California -- $6.06
- California -- $7.22
ProMiles’ diesel averages during the same week jumped by 22 cents to $5.31/gallon nationwide. According to the ProMiles Fuel Surcharge Index, the most expensive diesel can be found in California at $7.06/gallon, the cheapest in the Midwest region at $4.96/gallon.
[Related: DOT's Duffy: 'Spot rates are going to go up' as DOT cracks down on fraudsters]
I-70 Colorado construction brings lane shifts, speed reduction
The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin the Interstate 70 Seibert–Stratton Roadway Improvements project in early April, which will bring with it lane shifts, a speed limit reduction and other impacts.
The project is located on I-70 east and west of Seibert (mile marker 401 to 407), and along Colorado Highway 57 (Colorado Avenue) in Stratton, between I-70 and U.S. Highway 24 (Fourth Street).
The expected completion date is October 2027, with a winter shutdown anticipated between October 2026 and April 2027.
I-70 in Colorado was ranked as the No. 10 overall worst haul route in the nation by truckers in Overdrive’s 2025 Highway Report Card survey. Colorado was the No. 10 overall worst state, and I-70 was the worst road in the state, named by 58% of Colorado worst-roads voters.
“The mountain passes are horrendously poor, with cracks, potholes, and crevices that resemble the Rocky Mountains themselves,” one respondent noted of the route.
The initial phase of the project will begin east and west of Seibert and will involve constructing several crossover detours to facilitate head-to-head traffic. This configuration will help protect crews while maintaining traffic flow through the work zone, CDOT said.
To enhance safety and extend the life of the roadway and structures, crews will replace deteriorated concrete pavement and complete bridge rehabilitation to address aging infrastructure and improve structural integrity. Crews will also install a new concrete overlay and replace aging concrete pavement, creating a more durable and long-lasting driving surface.
Bridge rehabilitation will include removing and resurfacing the existing bridge deck with a new concrete overlay, replacing joints and completing structural repairs beneath the bridge deck, improving ride quality and reducing long-term maintenance needs for the traveling public. Other improvements include mainline guardrail replacement, installation of new delineators, updated roadway signage and fresh pavement striping to improve visibility and overall driver safety.
In addition to the I-70 improvements, work will be done on CO 57 between the I-70 interchange and U.S. 24 within the town of Stratton. This segment will be milled and paved with a hot-mix asphalt overlay to create a smoother, more durable driving surface and extend the life of the roadway. Additional upgrades include reconstructing select curb and gutter sections, as well as installing new signage and pavement striping. Crews will also resurface the on- and off-ramps at the Seibert and Stratton I-70 interchanges with new HMA overlay, which will require intermittent ramp closures and traffic shifts during paving operations.
Work will occur during the daytime, Monday through Friday, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and ending 30 minutes after sunset. Possible weekend work may occur, as well.
Traffic on I-70 will shift to a 24/7 head-to-head configuration, east and west of Seibert (mile marker 401 to 407) for concrete paving and structure improvements. Alternating-lane closures are anticipated along CO 57, between I-70 and U.S. 24, for roadway rehabilitation. Intermittent ramp closures with detours and traffic shifts.
A 12-foot width restriction will be in place, and the speed limit on I-70 will be reduced to 55 mph.
New Arkansas TA adds 92 truck parking spaces
TravelCenters of America (TA) has opened a new TA Express is Judsonia, Arkansas, bringing fueling, food, and amenities to drivers traveling along I-57.
The new stop boasts 92 truck parking spaces; nine Reserve-It spaces; eight diesel lanes with DEF; Sbarro and Bojangles (coming soon) restaurants; an on-site deli; TA Truck Service, CAT Scale and more.
