Weekly Freight Report: September 11, 2026
On September 29, a list of Canadian goods stops being importable at any price. The White House moved past tariffs this week and banned Canadian wine, spirits, whey, molasses and larger motorcycles outright, then ordered Canadian-origin products off the federal purchasing schedules. Fuel moved the same direction: the diesel benchmark that sets nearly every fuel surcharge in the country hit an all-time record and is on track to clear $6 a gallon within days, with crude holding above $100. Meanwhile demand is running hot on both sides of the network, with US-Mexico trade setting a monthly record and global container volumes posting the highest month ever recorded. Here is what changed and what it means for your shipments.
Canadian Wine, Spirits and Whey Face Outright US Import Bans on September 29
Three White House proclamations this week move the Canada dispute past tariffs and into outright import bans, effective September 29. The list covers finished alcohol including malt beer, wine, cider, whisky and vodka, along with whey products, certain molasses, non-alcoholic beer, and motorcycles and mopeds above 800cc. The administration also directed the General Services Administration to remove Canadian-origin products from its Multiple Award Schedules, the vehicle federal agencies use to buy under long-term contracts. US tariffs now cover roughly $28 billion in Canadian imports, against Canadian counter-duties on about $20 billion in US goods. USMCA eligibility exempts nothing here, and Section 338 duties stack on top of existing Section 232 tariffs. Goods imported before September 29 but not yet entered for consumption stay payable at the 50% duty rather than barred outright, so if you have Canadian product in transit, work your entry timing now rather than after the date lands.
The Diesel Benchmark Sets an All-Time Record at $5.967 With $6 Days Away
The weekly Department of Energy retail diesel average, the figure most fuel surcharges are calculated from, jumped 36.8 cents to $5.967 a gallon and set an all-time high. AAA’s daily average passed the previous June 2022 peak of $5.82 on Friday, and SONAR’s series read $5.94 on Wednesday. Ultra-low sulfur diesel futures settled up 5.11% at $4.8010 a gallon, which puts the retail benchmark on track to clear $6 within days. Crude crossed $100 a barrel Wednesday after the latest round of Middle East attacks, and Goldman Sachs now forecasts $85 by year end with upside to $120 for Brent if Gulf output stays 4 million barrels a day below pre-war levels, against a base case shortfall of half a million. Every fuel surcharge on your freight resets off this benchmark, so put the increase into anything you are quoting or budgeting this month.
US-Mexico Trade Sets a Monthly Record and Laredo Capacity Tightens With It
Two-way US-Mexico commerce reached $94.8 billion in July, a monthly record and 27.5% above July 2025. Imports drove it, up 33.5% to $60.55 billion, while exports rose 18.1% to $34.24 billion. Laredo handled $36.95 billion of that total and held its place as the top US international trade gateway for the month, ahead of Chicago O’Hare at $36 billion and the Port of Los Angeles at $26.5 billion. Motor vehicle parts led the commodity mix through Laredo at $1.31 billion in exports. The van tender rejection index at Laredo now sits at 11.18%, which means carriers there are turning down more loads and hold the stronger position in any negotiation. If Laredo is in your network, lock your fall capacity commitments in writing early instead of leaning on the spot market.
Global Container Volumes Post the Highest Month Ever Recorded
Global container throughput hit 17.3 million TEUs in July, an all-time monthly high and roughly 25,000 TEUs above the previous record set in May, according to Container Trade Statistics. July volumes ran 4.5% above the same month last year, with year-to-date growth at 5.1%. Asian exports carried the increase, growing nearly 9% year to date and adding almost 6 million TEUs, with Far East to Europe alone contributing about 1.5 million of them. Sub-Saharan Africa led import growth at 14%, while Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East imports fell 4.2% and exports there dropped 8.5% as the Iran war reshapes that trade. The CTS global price index reached 115 points in July, up 47% since January. Demand is holding at record levels against a network that is already constrained, so book early and expect to compete for space through peak.
Suez Transits Climb 27% as the Strait of Hormuz Stays Effectively Closed
Suez Canal income reached $505 million in July, up 42% from July 2025 and the canal’s strongest month since December 2023, on 1,340 transits, 27% more than the same month a year earlier. Tankers drove the increase, 526 in July against 485 in June, as Saudi crude exports move through the Red Sea and Suez rather than the Strait of Hormuz, which the Iran conflict has effectively closed. The Suez Canal Authority now projects $5.8 billion to $6 billion in 2026 revenue against $4.1 billion in 2025, though traffic remains well below the roughly 2,300 monthly crossings and record $10.2 billion the canal handled in 2023. Houthi threats in the southern Red Sea are still a live risk and insurers continue to price the region as high risk. If you move Asia to Europe or Middle East cargo, confirm the routing your carrier is actually using on each sailing rather than assuming the published service map still holds.
FMCSA Stops Deactivating USDOT Numbers Over Missed Biennial Updates
FMCSA has suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement and stopped deactivating USDOT numbers for missed filings, to limit service disruption while carriers migrate to MOTUS, the new federal registration platform that went live May 19. The relief applies to deadlines falling on or after June 1 and runs until further notice, and the agency says it will give advance warning before enforcement resumes. Carriers with overdue updates keep active USDOT numbers in the meantime. The filing requirement is paused, not eliminated. If you screen carriers on registration status, an active USDOT number tells you less than it did three months ago, so weight insurance and safety history more heavily in your vetting this quarter.
Get the freight report every week
The headlines that move your freight, and what they mean for your shipments. Every Friday.