Top 3 Trucking News Today: Cass Linehaul Rates Up 10%, the Russian Diesel Deal Draws Debate and International Truck Sales Jump 48% (October 14, 2026)

Freight data is turning more positive for carriers, but fuel is still a heavy cost, and truck makers are seeing orders return. Here are the three stories that matter most for trucking today.

1. Cass: Truckload Linehaul Rates Up 10.1% as Shipments Grow for a Second Month

The Cass Freight Index for September, published October 13, shows its truckload linehaul index up 10.1% from a year earlier and 0.6% from August, the highest reading in four years. It was the 21st straight month of annual gains. Shipments rose 1.9% year over year, the second consecutive increase after 42 months of declines.

Freight spending climbed even faster, up 20.4% from a year earlier, with diesel prices up 68% over the same period. New compared with yesterday’s contract-rate story: Cass says spot rates are easing slightly from month to month while the much larger contract market is still adjusting upward, and it expects October shipments to be up about 4% year over year.

Why it matters: Carriers renewing contracts have a stronger hand than in recent years, while shippers and brokers should expect higher bids to continue. Part of the spending increase is fuel, so check that your fuel surcharge language matches today’s prices before you sign.

2. The Russian Diesel Deal Draws Debate in Washington

On October 9, President Trump said Russia had agreed to supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to global markets right away, with another 500,000 tons promised for November, as the White House works to ease fuel prices. Seven senators from both parties, including four Republicans, have since urged the administration to reverse course, citing a 2022 ban on Russian energy imports and saying Congress was not consulted. Administration officials say they are acting within their legal authority.

Energy analysts quoted in coverage say the volumes are unlikely to change global diesel prices much, and some former officials question whether the supply exists. The latest EIA weekly reading we could verify, for October 5, put the U.S. average at $6.199 a gallon, down 18.3 cents on the week and about $2.49 below a year earlier.

Why it matters: The policy argument is still open and the legal questions will be settled by Congress and the courts, not by this site. For fleets, the practical point is that fuel remains volatile, so keep surcharges current and avoid budgeting on the hope of a quick drop.

3. International Reports Third-Quarter Sales Up 48%

International Motors sold about 19,900 trucks and buses in the third quarter, up 48% from 13,400 a year earlier and 22.8% above the second quarter. Nine-month sales reached 49,400, up 3% after a first-half decline of 15%. Parent company Traton credits a strong recovery in U.S. customer demand, and production at the Escobedo, Mexico plant more than doubled in September.

The company expects North American truck sales to keep rising in the fourth quarter and is studying a second shift at its San Antonio plant. Full third-quarter earnings are due October 28.

Why it matters: Fleets are buying again, which fits the firmer rate picture, but strong demand can stretch delivery times and prices for new tractors. Owner-operators planning a purchase should talk to dealers early and compare against well-maintained used units.

The Bottom Line

Rates, shipments and truck orders are all moving up, while diesel stays high and its political debate continues. The market is better for carriers, but costs have not gone away.

Neal’s Take

I read today’s stories as a market that is slowly recovering but still expensive to run in. Higher contract rates and returning truck orders are good news for carriers, though shippers and brokers face higher costs, and both sides have a fair point. On diesel, people can reasonably disagree about the policy, so I would focus on what a fleet controls: fuel surcharge terms, fuel purchasing and cash flow. Next I would watch the next EIA diesel readings and International’s October 28 earnings to see whether this recovery holds.

— Neal Cvetkovski, Founder of LOAD TIDE. Personal opinion, not legal or financial advice.

Stay with LOAD TIDE for daily updates on the freight and trucking market.

Sources: FreightWaves, CNN via KRDO, IndexBox (EIA data), Transport Topics, Traton Group.