Trucking News Roundup: EIA Diesel at $6.179, SONAR Tender Rejections Hit 14%, DAT Van Linehaul $2.26, LTL Rates at a Q3 High, Pilot–Tesla Megachargers Open (Oct 15, 2026)

EIA diesel: $6.179 after the Columbus Day delay — down 2¢ from last week

U.S. Energy Information Administration Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (released Oct 14, 2026 for the week of Oct 12): on-highway diesel averaged $6.179 a gallon nationally, down $0.020 from the prior week's $6.199. Gulf Coast (PADD 3) diesel was $5.809 (down a penny). West Coast diesel was $7.240 and California $8.091. The release landed Wednesday instead of Tuesday because of the federal holiday. FreightWaves earlier noted ULSD futures had been rising even while the retail benchmark eased for a third straight week, so carriers should not assume the soft path continues.

What it means: Fuel still dominates variable cost. When you compare cents-per-mile offers, separate linehaul from fuel: how cents-per-mile pay works. Company drivers at Maas start at 50+ CPM dry van and 60+ CPM reefer — company drivers. Shippers: keep fuel-surcharge language clear on every tender — get a freight quote.

• Source: EIA — Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update

SONAR tender rejections hit 14.17% — capacity shortfall, not a demand spike

FreightWaves (Oct 14, 2026), SONAR Market Update with Zach Strickland: the SONAR Tender Rejection Index climbed to 14.17% in mid-October. Strickland called it unexpected because the Tender Volume Index shows no demand surge — the squeeze is a truck shortage. Weighted rejection readings were elevated at once in Knoxville, Harrisburg, Memphis, Atlanta, Green Bay, Des Moines, Los Angeles, Ontario (Calif.), and El Paso. Los Angeles van rejections rose 1.87 percentage points week over week, with spot above contract on 38% of the market's top 50 lanes after a prolonged West Coast import plateau. Tender lead times ran 3.5–4 days while spot booked a day or less out, so national rate indexes had not yet fully caught the tightening. Houston posted the strongest softening signals in the van market.

What it means: National capacity is uneven — tight on the coasts and inland hubs, softer out of Houston. Asset-based coverage still matters when brokers start rejecting tenders: asset-based carrier vs freight broker. Need a truck out of DFW: get a freight quote. Drivers who want steady miles in a tight market: company drivers or owner-operators.

• Source: FreightWaves — Why October's tender rejections hit 14% unexpectedly

DAT: dry van linehaul $2.26, reefer $2.75 — rates firm while loads fall

FleetOwner / Jenna Hume (Oct 14, 2026), citing FTR and DAT: spot rates mostly held after the prior week's gains even as volumes slipped. DAT national linehaul spot averaged $2.26 per mile for dry van (up 5 cents week over week) and $2.75 for refrigerated (up 6 cents). FTR said dry van loads dropped near 15% and refrigerated loads close to 12%, yet year-over-year rates remained sharply higher (about 49% for dry van and 46% for reefer on FTR's read). Brokers' total posted rate barely moved.

What it means: Fewer loads and firm rates usually means shippers pay for reliable capacity and drivers still have leverage on good lanes. Compare CPM offers carefully: how cents-per-mile pay works. Maas company drivers: 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer — company drivers. Owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch — owner-operators.

• Source: FleetOwner — Truckload spot market rates and freight volumes shift

LTL rates hit a new Q3 high — TD Cowen–AFS sees more strength into Q4

FreightWaves, Todd Maiden (Oct 14, 2026): the LTL rate-per-pound piece of the TD Cowen–AFS Freight Index finished the third quarter 78.8% above its January 2018 baseline — a new high — and is projected to finish the fourth quarter 82.5% above that benchmark. High diesel and carrier pricing power are the drivers. The truckload rate-per-mile component sat 19.7% above the 2018 baseline in Q3 and is expected to reach 23.4% above in Q4, the highest since early 2022, as regulatory pressure, carrier exits and fuel shocks squeeze capacity.

What it means: Even if you ship full truckload, LTL pricing power shows how expensive replacement capacity has become. Before you tender, vet who actually hauls the load: carrier vetting checklist and asset-based carrier vs freight broker. Maas is asset-based and never re-brokers — get a freight quote.

• Source: FreightWaves — LTL rates hit new high in Q3, moving higher in Q4

Pilot and Tesla open Megacharger sites — Texas Fort Stockton still on the build list

FreightWaves, Thomas Wasson (Oct 14, 2026): Pilot Travel Centers and Tesla opened their first Megacharger site for heavy-duty electric trucks at a Pilot in Ellabell, Georgia (six stalls), with a Flying J in Tulare, California opening around Oct 9. Twelve more heavy-duty sites are under construction; nearly finished locations include Fort Stockton, Texas and North Las Vegas, Nevada. The network is aimed at major freight corridors in California, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada and Texas. Tesla started high-volume Semi production at Sparks, Nevada on Sept 24 and has said it wants more than 30 charging stations operating by year end.

What it means: Texas corridors keep drawing infrastructure bets. Diesel still runs most freight today, including ours — Maas hauls dry van and reefer full truckload OTR in 48 states out of Melissa. Dallas–Houston shippers: Dallas to Houston lane or get a freight quote. Drivers: company drivers / owner-operators.

• Source: FreightWaves — Pilot, Tesla Megacharger site opens

For drivers and shippers (Thursday note)

Drivers: rejections are up and rates are firm even with softer load boards, so you still have leverage — read every offer in writing and know regional vs OTR before you commit. If you hold a valid Class A CDL and a current DOT medical card, Maas Logistics runs dry van and reefer full truckload OTR in all 48 states out of Melissa, Texas, serving DFW, with 24/7 dispatch. Company drivers start at 50+ CPM dry van and 60+ CPM reefer. Owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch.

Shippers: when tender rejections climb without a demand spike, asset-based capacity matters more. Check carriers before you tender. Maas is an asset-based carrier and never re-brokers your load — dry van and reefer full truckload.

What it means: Drivers: regional vs OTR CDL-A jobs, company drivers, owner-operators. Shippers: carrier vetting checklist and get a freight quote.