Trucking News Roundup: Dry Van Spot Rates Climb to $2.23 With Nearly 11 Loads per Truck, Factory Output Hits Its Fastest Pace Since 2021, 89,000 Carriers Have Left Truckload Since 2022, and the LA–Long Beach Watchmen Deadline Arrives Wednesday (Nov 3, 2026)

Dry van spot rates rise to $2.23 a mile as trucks get scarcer on the load boards

DAT Freight & Analytics (Nov 2, 2026): National dry van spot linehaul rates, which leave out fuel, averaged $2.23 a mile in the week ending Oct. 31. That is 3 cents more than the week before, 55 cents (32.6%) more than a year ago, and 42 cents above DAT's nine-year average for this time of year. Load posts rose 8.4% in the week while truck posts fell 5.7%, pushing the dry van load-to-truck ratio to 10.93, up from 9.51 and far above 6.37 a year earlier. Compared with a year ago, load posts are up 26.8% and truck posts are down 26.1%. DAT's 35-day forecast has van linehaul edging to about $2.26, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday restocking keeping distribution centers busy into early December. Reefer is tighter still: DAT put reefer linehaul at $2.71 a mile, up 31.2% from a year ago, with a load-to-truck ratio of 15.73, and expects Thanksgiving turkeys, produce and dairy to pull reefer loads into the week before the holiday.

What it means: What it means for shippers: These are national averages from the spot market, not anyone's price for your lane, and fuel comes on top. When there are almost 11 loads chasing each van truck, last-minute freight is the first to get squeezed. Book Thanksgiving-week freight now and give carriers firm pickup windows. Our peak season guide has a 30-day checklist: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-11-01-peak-season-freight-shipping-truckload-shipper-guide. Maas runs asset-based dry van and reefer full truckload with our own trucks, never re-brokered: https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking · https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking · https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: DAT — Dry van report: spot rates climb as month-end freight meets shrinking capacity
• Source: DAT — Reefer report: rates firm as truck posts shrink

U.S. factory output grows at its fastest pace since November 2021

Institute for Supply Management (Nov 2, 2026): ISM's Manufacturing PMI rose to 55.5 in October from 54.5 in September, the 10th straight month of manufacturing growth. The Production Index jumped to 59.0, its highest reading since November 2021, and New Orders held at 55.5. The Imports Index rose to 52.9. Customers' inventories stayed in "too low" territory at 41.6, and the Prices Index eased to 75.2 but remains high.

What it means: What it means for shippers: More production and low customer inventories usually mean more outbound and replenishment freight, arriving in a truck market that already has fewer trucks than a year ago. If your plants or warehouses are shipping more this quarter, share your forecast with your carriers early so they can plan trucks and drivers for it. Full truckload from DFW across 48 states: https://maaslogistic.com/services/full-truckload · https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-fort-worth-freight-shipping.

• Source: Institute for Supply Management — October 2026 Manufacturing PMI report
• Source: PR Newswire — Manufacturing PMI at 55.5%; October 2026 ISM Manufacturing PMI report

About 89,000 carriers have left truckload since 2022, and pricing power is shifting

Logistics Management (Nov 2, 2026): The magazine's State of Truckload report, citing the annual State of Logistics report, says roughly 89,000 carriers have exited the truckload market since 2022, after the flood of new entrants during the pandemic boom. The result is what the report calls a supply-driven recovery: rates are firming even though demand is mixed. Spot truckload rates were running about 60% above 2025 levels at midsummer, while contract rates were up about 15%. The report says truckload is no longer one national market, with capacity and pricing set more and more by regional conditions. One LTL carrier said some shippers who wanted to move a full truckload have had to split it into several LTL shipments instead. Executives quoted expect some shippers to lock in capacity with their truckload carriers for 2027, even at higher rates than they paid this year.

What it means: What it means for shippers: If you are planning 2027 freight now, talk to your core carriers before bid season, and know whether the carrier you award is the one that will actually haul the load. Not sure whether a shipment should move as full truckload or LTL? Read https://maaslogistic.com/blog/ftl-vs-ltl-vs-partial-truckload. Texas freight with a carrier that runs its own trucks: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/freight-shipping-texas · https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: Logistics Management — State of Truckload: less capacity, more leverage

LA–Long Beach watchmen deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, and meat exporters are watching

FreightWaves, Market Talk and CDLWire (Nov 1–2, 2026): As of Monday, no new contract had been announced between the Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26, and the extension still runs to 5 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with federal mediators helping. The roughly 250 watchmen are only about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports, but they work at terminals that handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and a third of Los Angeles cargo, and the employers' group says other ILWU workers are not expected to cross a picket line. That could stop vessel, yard and gate work at those terminals. The coastwide longshore contract is separate and runs through 2028. The U.S. Meat Export Federation's Dan Halstrom said about two-thirds of waterborne U.S. beef exports and about half of waterborne pork exports move through West Coast ports, and that trouble in Southern California can also throw off ships headed to Oakland. He said congestion was already being reported. The Port of Long Beach said port-wide security outside the terminals continues as normal.

What it means: What it means for shippers: If you have import freight coming off those terminals to Texas, or chilled or frozen exports headed west, plan for a possible gate stoppage after Wednesday afternoon and watch your terminal's notices. Yesterday's roundup has the background: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-11-02-driver-hiring-costs-lalb-watchmen-deadline-cabotage-lease-rules.

• Source: FreightWaves — Strike at busiest US port just days away as talks continue
• Source: Market Talk — Port security strike threat at LA-Long Beach puts US meat exports at risk
• Source: CDLWire — LA-LB watchmen strike deadline extended to Nov. 4

For shippers and drivers (Tuesday note)

Shippers: trucks are scarcer than a year ago and the holidays are close. Maas Logistics runs asset-based dry van and reefer full truckload out of Melissa and DFW across 48 states, never re-brokered, with 24/7 dispatch. Get a quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

Drivers: tight capacity means good drivers are in demand. Maas is hiring CDL-A company drivers at 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers — and owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators.

What it means: Need a truck: https://maaslogistic.com/quote. Hiring CDL-A company drivers: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers. Owner-operators: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators. Phone: (916) 770-7323 | Melissa, TX / DFW | USDOT 3179194. Maas Logistics LLC | 1817 Miller Rd #5, Melissa, TX 75454 | dispatch@maaslogistic.com. The Logistics Partner that Delivers.