Transfix Take Podcast | Week of Sept 15 - Fuel Shock: Diesel Surges as Freight Rates Soften

Linehaul rates have fallen back to pre-Labor Day levels—but that doesn’t mean freight is getting cheaper. Diesel prices have surged 68 cents in two weeks, placing enormous pressure on carriers and complicating transportation costs across the country. In this episode of *The Transfix Take*, Jenni Ruiz and NFI market expert Justin Maze examine how fuel volatility is reshaping the freight market, even as spot activity and linehaul rates soften. They also warn drivers about fraudulent websites impersonating official government resources and recognize the carriers keeping freight moving during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. They discuss: * Why diesel’s rapid rise is threatening smaller carrier operations * How fuel costs can spill into linehaul rates and shipper budgets * Why national average linehaul rates returned to roughly $2.16 per mile * What tender rejections above 12% may signal for a volatile Q4 * Where capacity is tightening across the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest * Why California fuel prices could become a major market curveball * What declining spot activity could mean through early October Plus, Justin explains why the next two weeks may bring a looser freight market—and what could interrupt that outlook if fuel prices continue climbing. -- Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.