Kelsea Ansfield

The freight market has shifted dramatically — and fast. According to the latest Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI), April 2026 delivered one of the most imbalanced transportation markets in nearly a decade. Supply chain professionals reported a severely tight freight environment, with capacity collapsing while transportation prices surged. April 2026 Freight Market Snapshot Transportation Capacity Index: 28.4 → Down 10.9 points from March — the second-fastest rate of decline in the LMI’s nearly...

U.S. shippers are facing another sharp increase in operating costs as diesel prices surged in April, according to new data released today by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). April 2026 Motor Fuel Prices Regular Motor Gasoline: National average $4.10 per gallon → +12.8% from March 2026 → +29.4% from April 2025 Diesel No. 2: National average $5.50 per gallon → +11.8% from March 2026 → +54.2% from April 2025 Regional Regular Gasoline Prices (April 2026): West Coast: $5.38 (+26.5%...

The U.S. manufacturing sector continued its modest recovery in April 2026, with the ISM Manufacturing PMI® holding steady at 52.7% — matching March’s reading and marking the fourth consecutive month of expansion. While the headline number signals ongoing growth, deeper analysis reveals a sector navigating persistent headwinds: sharply rising prices, slowing supplier deliveries, contracting employment, and significant geopolitical uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and tariffs. Key...