Transportation

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UPDATED: US West Coast container rates edge lower

A small decline in Asia-U.S. West Coast pricing offered the first sign of softening trans-Pacific container rates since mid-September, according to Xeneta. Spot rates from Asia to Europe also continued to fall in early October, the analyst said in an update, giving European shippers greater leverage in annual contract negotiations. Trans-Pacific shows first small dip Far East-U.S. West Coast spot rates fell $2 per FEU on Oct. 7, the first daily decline in weeks. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); “It is a marginal move, but the first dip since mid-September,” Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand said. Despite that decline, West Coast rates remained 1.1% above their Sept. 30 level at $8,336 per FEU. Asia-U.S. East Coast rates averaged $11,512 per FEU, up 0.5% over the week. On the trans-Atlantic trade, North Europe-U.S. East Coast spot rates declined 1.1% week over week to $2,854 per FEU. Bank of America Institute’s Oct. 9 Consumer Checkpoint report shows broad-based consumer spending strength in September, with gains across retail and services categories and a narrowing gap among income groups. Total credit and debit card spending per household increased 6.2% year over year, or 5.1% excluding gasoline, the third-strongest growth rates in four years. However, seasonally adjusted spending rose just 0.2% from August and was little changed excluding gasoline. The Mediterranean has recorded the steepest decline since the post-Hormuz crisis peak in July. Market-average spot rates on the trade have fallen 43% since July 1, compared with a 34% decline from the Far East to North Europe, Sand said. “The pace of the decline has eased a little, but rates are still elevated and the trend is still downward, so we are not at the floor yet,” Sand said. As of Oct. 7, Asia-Mediterranean spot rates averaged $4,007 per 40-foot container, or FEU, down 5.9% from Sept. 30. Far East-North Europe rates averaged $3,645 per FEU, down 2.5% over the same period. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); Europe-bound rate gap narrows The sharper Mediterranean decline has compressed the premium over North Europe to roughly $400 per FEU, below the approximately $500 spread recorded on Oct. 1, 2025, and well below the $2,000 gap reached on Jan. 1, 2026, Sand said. The Oct. 7 market averages put the difference at $362. “The spread between the Mediterranean and North Europe shows that no two trades are alike and that volatility differs depending on where you ship from and to,” he said. Sand said carrier rerouting away from the Suez Canal route around Africa may help explain the pricing relationship. The diversion has lengthened journeys into the Mediterranean compared with North Europe, although North Europe historically has been the more expensive destination. Falling short-term rates are arriving as European shippers negotiate long-term contracts, which are also benchmarked against the spot market. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot4', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0'); }); “For European shippers, tender season is in full force and falling short-term rates are a welcome development as they negotiate long-term contracts,” Sand said. Demand has remained strong throughout the year, particularly into Europe, but could not continue growing at double-digit rates indefinitely, he said. As demand eases from a high level, competition for vessel capacity is diminishing, improving negotiating conditions for shippers. “Even freight forwarders are now getting better deals from carriers in long-term contract negotiations,” Sand said. This article was updated Oct. 9 to add analysis on consumer spending from Bank of America. Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot5', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0'); }); Read more: Global container volumes hit record 17.46 million TEUs Samsung seeks $186M from CMA CGM in container charges dispute window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot6', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767872042-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767872042-0'); }); Zim lifts profit forecast 72% on strong demand New submarine plant planned at Baltimore multimodal hub The post UPDATED: US West Coast container rates edge lower appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 9, 2026

Transportation

Why Trucking Rates Are Rising Without More Freight

Truckload rates are rising in 2026 because trucks are leaving the market, not because freight is booming. Carriers spent three years hauling at rates that barely covered their costs, and in the spot market often didn’t. The 2026 increase is a correction, and SONAR’s new Sitrep, The Repricing Isn’t Finished, shows it is only about halfway done. What does it cost to run a truck in 2026? The American Transportation Research Institute’s 2026 Operational Costs of Trucking study puts the average cost of operating a truck at a record $2.336 per mile in 2025, up 3.4% from 2024. Excluding fuel, costs rose 4.2%, 1.5 points faster than inflation. Nearly every cost line set a record. Tolls (+13.2%), repair and maintenance (+8.6%), driver benefits (+6.6%) and tires (+6.4%) led the increase. Early 2026 data shows insurance (+6.4%) and fuel (+5.9%) leading the next leg up, and SONAR’s diesel index (DTS) now sits at $6.38 a gallon. How far did rates fall behind costs? SONAR’s dry van contract linehaul rate (VCRPM1) averaged $2.81 a mile in 2022. By 2024 and 2025 it had fallen to $2.32, while truckload carriers’ non-fuel costs rose 30% from 2021 to 2025. In 2022, contract linehaul cleared non-fuel cost by about $1.01 per loaded mile. By 2025, that cushion had shrunk to $0.26. Spot linehaul (NTIL) sat below non-fuel cost every year from 2023 through 2025. In Q3 2026, contract linehaul averaged $2.69. That is still below Q4 2021 and has rebuilt only about half the cushion carriers had in 2022. If demand is flat, why are rates rising? Capacity is leaving faster than freight. SONAR’s tender rejection index (STRI) is up 268% since October 2023, while tender volume (STVI) is up about 9%. For-hire tractor counts fell by about 51,000 in a single month, and ATRI found carriers cut effective capacity 5.5% in 2025. ATRI calls this a supply-side recovery, and SONAR’s data agrees. Why can’t carriers just run more miles? The Sitrep models a typical dry van truck at Q3 2026 benchmark rates. It covers its marginal costs but contributes only about 15% of revenue toward overhead, against roughly 26% that ATRI’s truckload carriers needed in 2025. Closing the gap takes rates about 14% higher. Even running near the hours-of-service ceiling, the truck still falls about 5% short. That is why rates have to rise before carriers can responsibly add trucks. Capacity added at today’s rates would finance new equipment on margins that don’t yet cover overhead. What’s inside the full Sitrep The full report goes further, with: A mode-by-mode breakdown showing why reefer contract rates are furthest behind the market. Market-level rejection data showing where carriers are already repricing. A Chicago-to-Atlanta lane analysis with SONAR’s projection into 2027. An interactive calculator that tests contract/spot mix, miles, diesel and deadhead against carrier costs. Takeaways for shippers, carriers and brokers heading into 2027 bids. All SONAR Sitreps and the data cited to support them can be found in the SONAR platform. Request a demo. Sitreps are also available with a subscription to FreightWaves Market Monitor. Get more info at getfreightdata.com. Frequently asked questions Why are truckload rates going up in 2026? Capacity is leaving the market faster than freight. Tender rejections have nearly quadrupled since late 2023 while volume is up only modestly, so fewer trucks are competing for roughly the same freight. What is the cost of operating a truck per mile? ATRI’s 2026 study puts the 2025 average at $2.336 per mile, or $1.854 excluding fuel. Truckload carriers averaged $2.21 per mile. Are trucking rates high right now? Not relative to costs. Dry van contract linehaul averaged $2.69 a mile in Q3 2026, below Q4 2021 levels, while carriers’ non-fuel costs are about 30% higher than in 2021. Will truckload rates keep rising? The math says they need to. At benchmark rates, a typical dry van truck needs roughly 14% more to cover overhead, and SONAR’s lane projection for Chicago to Atlanta shows rates holding near current levels into 2027. What is a tender rejection rate? It is the share of contracted loads that carriers turn down. SONAR’s STRI tracks it daily; a rising rate means carriers have better options than their contracted freight. Sources: SONAR (VCRPM1, NTIL, NTI, STRI, STVI, DTS, TCFH); ATRI, Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update (July 2026). The post Why Trucking Rates Are Rising Without More Freight appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 9, 2026

Transportation

Italo blow: court blocks German rail regulator’s capacity allocation measure

GERMANY: In a ruling issued on October 7, a federal administrative court in Köln has rejected an earlier regulatory measure intended to facilitate market entry by private operators to the long-distance passenger rail market. The ruling is a potential setback to Italian open access operator NTV-Italo’s hopes of launching services in Germany in 2028. The court ruled that federal networks agency Bundesnetzagentur did not have sufficient legal basis to require infrastructure manager DB InfraGO to reserve a proportion of available train paths for competitors to incumbent Deutsche Bahn. The case was heard under expedited proceedings, with the decision reportedly not subject to appeal. The clause, introduced by the regulator in July 2026, proposed the introduction of a competition clause, which would limit any single operator to between 60% and 75% of long-distance train paths on congested routes, but only under narrowly defined circumstances. Since DB Fernverkehr is the incumbent and dominant market player in the German inter-city segment, the remaining capacity would effectively have been available to competing operators. The measure was intended to apply to the 2028 timetable, for which capacity allocation preparations take place in 2027. The court found that neither German nor EU railway legislation provided a sufficient basis for imposing this type of capacity restriction. It also questioned whether the measure, given its limited geographical, temporal and substantive scope, would provide the long-term certainty required to support investment in new services. The ruling also overturned a separate requirement concerning access to DB station lounges, finding that their catering, resting and working facilities did not serve a sufficiently railway-specific operational purpose to justify treating them as railway service facilities. The decision comes as Italo prepares to invest approximately €3.6bn in entering the German market, with operations planned from 2028 using a fleet of high speed trains on order from Siemens Mobility. Italo stands to gain as regulator seeks changes to DB InfraGO path allocation processes

via Railway Gazette October 9, 2026

Transportation

Wheel-E Podcast: 7-seater e-bike, solar-powered scooter, more

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes new e-bikes from Gazelle, Ride1Up, and SixThreeZero, a solar-powered electric seated scooter, LiveWire Honcho approved for MSF motorcycle training courses, and more. more…

via Electrek October 9, 2026

Transportation

Virgin Group to explore air-rail integration as it orders cross-Channel high speed train fleet

EUROPE: Virgin Group confirmed on October 9 that an order for 12 Avelia Stream high speed trains had been signed with Alstom, including 30 years of maintenance. It also announced Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse-inspired social spaces at stations and integration of flight bookings into its rail offering. Virgin Trains is seeking to begin running services between London and continental Europe in 2030, competing against Eurostar. The new entrant reports that UK rail regulator ORR has now published the signed agreement between Virgin and incumbent cross-Channel operator Eurostar that will see Virgin’s trains maintained at the Temple Mills International depot in east London. In August, Virgin Trains received ‘pre-approval’ from ORR to use High Speed 1 to provide six daily London – Paris services in each direction from October 2030 to March 2031, increasing to 10 daily paths (April – September 2031) and then 13 daily paths (October 2031 – December 2040). It will also run four daily trains between London and Brussels (February 2031 – December 2040), and three return trips per day between London and Amsterdam, starting in September 2031. However, its access rights on the relevant networks in France, Belgium and the Netherlands have yet to be formally confirmed. Red and black The images released on October 9 show the single-deck Alstom Avelia Stream trainsets ordered by Virgin carrying a red and black livery. The single-deck, non-tilting trainsets will feature a distributed traction arrangement, offering a maximum speed of 300 km/h. The manufacturer has confirmed that the trains will be assembled at the Savigliano plant in northern Italy, which was the design and production base for the Class 390 Pendolino trainsets ordered for the West Coast Main Line in the 1990s when Virgin Trains was a UK rail franchise holder. Railway Gazette International understands that the 12 trains are likely to be delivered through the same production lines that are currently being used to assemble another batch of 12 Avelia Stream EMUs for private operator NTV-Italo. This order was confirmed by Alstom and Italo during a presentation at the InnoTrans trade show in Berlin on September 23, when Italo CEO Gianbattista La Rocca said that he expected the trainsets to enter service in its home market from 2027. The Virgin effect The operator said that its affiliates across the Virgin portfolio would support the customer experience for cross-Channel rail passengers. Virgin Voyages’ onboard dining will influence the food and drink offering, while Virgin Hotels’ focus on comfort and design will help inform the development of seating and onboard spaces, the company said. Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouses will help inspire pre-departure and onboard social spaces, giving passengers more flexibility to work, relax or socialise. Virgin said it would also explore how its rail and airline networks could work more closely together, making it easier for international customers arriving in London with Virgin Atlantic to continue to France and other European destinations, while connecting passengers from France into Virgin Atlantic’s global aviation network. Josh Bayliss, CEO of Virgin Group, said ‘Virgin has a proud history in UK rail. With our latest venture we are drawing on more than four decades of experience across travel and hospitality to create something genuinely new. This time, we’ll be connecting London with some of Europe’s greatest cities and giving passengers a distinctive new choice in cross-Channel travel. ‘We’re confident that more journeys between the UK and Europe will be made by train’, he added. ‘We’re adding capacity for millions more international rail journeys each year, growing the market as a whole. We’re looking forward to seeing our distinctive red and black trains travelling across Europe.’ Andrew DeLeone, Europe Region President at Alstom, said the manufacturer was ‘incredibly excited to be working with Virgin once again, a brand we greatly admire for its commitment to innovation, customer experience and growing sustainable rail travel. Across Europe, passengers are increasingly looking for more seamless cross-border high speed rail connections, and this project will help deliver exactly that.’ ‘Our Avelia Stream platform combines proven high speed performance with outstanding energy efficiency, passenger comfort and operational flexibility. As both the train supplier and fleet maintainer, Alstom will support Virgin throughout the full lifecycle of the project — from delivery into service through to long-term operations — helping to ensure a reliable, high-quality service for decades to come.’ Virgin Trains’ Channel Tunnel plans are ‘moving at pace’

via Railway Gazette October 9, 2026

Transportation

Max stupid: EU may loosen EV rules for third time in two years, aiding China

During multiple historic fuel crises and a climate crisis that left tens of thousands dead across Europe this summer, the bloc is reportedly close to striking a deal to allow its automakers to produce more of the vehicles that directly caused each of those problems. In doing so, it would only ensure that its automakers are unprepared to compete against the country that actually is providing solutions to those problems: China. more…

via Electrek October 9, 2026

Transportation

Dar es Salaam monorail feasibility study commissioned

TANZANIA: Tanzania Railways Corp has commissioned Systra to lead a feasibility study for a proposed three-line monorail network in Dar es Salaam, where the rapidly growing population is projected to reach 10 million by 2030. The proposed lines are designated Red, Orange and Yellow. The initial pilot section of the Yellow Line would link the central business district to Julius Nyerere International Airport. The study will define the technical requirements, alignments, technology options, costs and preferred implementation model, and help to determine whether a monorail is the most suitable option for the city. Speaking after the first meeting with Systra on September 17, TRC Director General Machibya Shiwa said ‘the feasibility study will provide us with a professional basis to determine the best way to implement the project based on the needs of the citizens and the growth of the city’. He said TRC intends to involve the private sector in the project, to ‘help bring capital, innovation and technology to the construction and operation of modern transport infrastructure’. The project aims to increase business efficiency, help create employment and investment opportunities, increase land values in areas served and reduce the time lost in congestion. ‘All of this is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen urban transport in line with the National Development Vision 2050, which aims to build modern infrastructure and facilitate sustainable growth of cities and the national economy’, said Shiwa.

via Railway Gazette October 9, 2026

Transportation

Solo travel safety tips every traveler should know

Solo travel has many perks. Even this writer — who loves traveling with friends and family — saw the appeal…

October 9, 2026

Transportation

Are you an Alaska Airlines loyalist? Here’s why you need the Citi / AAdvantage Executive

When choosing a cobranded airline card, it’s natural to focus on the airlines you fly most often. After all, benefits…

October 9, 2026

Transportation

Railway supply industry news round-up

This week’s global railway supply chain news from Railway Gazette International. On October 1 Indian company Afcons Infrastructure signed its first contract in Europe, a €898.9m EU-cofinanced deal to rebuild and double-track Croatian infrastructure manager HŽ Infrastruktura’s 83 km Dugo Selo – Novska line to support 160 km/h operation. The works are scheduled to take five years and 10 months. ‘We will prove that we are the right choice’, said the contractor’s EVP & Croatian Project Director Udai Veer Singh. Eptisa Adria has been awarded a supervision contract. DYWIDAG and Dual Inventive have signed a MoU to explore how infrastructure monitoring alerts generated by DYWIDAG’s Infrastructure Intelligence platform can be automatically linked to the Dual Inventive’s MTinfo 3000 monitoring and control system. The aim is to reduce the time between detecting a potentially catastrophic event and implementing operational safeguards. The initial focus will be on embankment instability. ‘The railway industry has made significant progress in monitoring infrastructure assets, but there can still be a gap between detecting a problem and applying protection’, said Josh Jackson, Managing Director at Dual Inventive. Marc Ó Dálaigh, DYWIDAG Regional Director for UK & Ireland, said ‘validated data is only useful if it leads to action quickly enough to matter’. Strabag completed its acquisition of 100% of Romanian railway infrastructure contractor BAWI Construction on September 30 following receipt of the required regulatory approvals. BAWI will retain its name and continue its existing activities as part of the Strabag Group, which said the acquisition would expand its expertise and value chain in railway construction and position the group to benefit from growing investment in Romania and the wider southeastern European market. Stadler has appointed Philipp Brunner as Group CEO to take over from Markus Bernsteiner on January 1 2027. The company said the change has been planned well in advance, and Bernsteiner intends to focus on strategic roles on the boards of other companies. Brunner has been with Stadler for more than 16 years. He is currently CEO of the Central Europe and Germany divisions and has been a member of the Group Executive Board since 2021. The new division heads will be announced at a later date. On October 1 Eurofima disbursed a third tranche of €5m to Bulgarian national operator BDZ’s passenger division under a financing framework agreed in April 2026. This is to support the acquisition of 20 second-hand inter-city passenger coaches previously operated in Germany. Eurofima has now provided €17.6m under the framework, supporting the acquisition of a total of 73 coaches to strengthen passenger services while extending the useful life of existing assets. During InnoTrans 2026, bearing manufacturer Schaeffler signed an agreement expanding its strategic co-operation with Alstom to cover products for regional and commuter trains, trams and metros. This builds on existing work on locomotives and high speed trains. ‘By working closer together, we are building a more resilient supply chain while supporting Alstom’s future programmes and long-term ambitions’, says Nathalie Saint-Martin, Chief Procurement Officer of Alstom.

via Railway Gazette October 9, 2026