Freight Industry News
Regulatory updates, port developments, and market intelligence curated for Southeast shippers — updated every business day.
Featured This Week
Port of Savannah Announces $847M Infrastructure Expansion Phase III
The Georgia Ports Authority approved Phase III of the Garden City Terminal expansion, adding 1.2 million TEUs of annual throughput capacity and deepening the Savannah River channel to 47 feet — the deepest on the U.S. East Coast outside New York.
Read Full ArticleFMCSA Proposes Updated ELD Audit Standards Under 49 CFR Part 395
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would revise ELD malfunction and data-diagnostic event definitions, tighten data-transfer protocol requirements, and introduce new audit criteria for third-party ELD providers.
Read Full ArticleNorfolk Southern Reports Q1 2026 Intermodal Volume Up 8% Year-Over-Year
Norfolk Southern's preliminary Q1 2026 intermodal volumes show an 8% year-over-year increase, driven largely by domestic container growth along the Crescent Corridor — signaling a broader modal shift as shippers hedge against volatile truckload spot rates.
Read Full ArticleLatest News
DOT Issues Final Rule on HazMat Packaging Standards — Effective September 2026
The Department of Transportation finalized updates to 49 CFR Parts 173–178, revising performance packaging requirements for flammable liquids, lithium batteries, and corrosives. Carriers and shippers have until September 1, 2026 to comply.
Read Full Article →Port of Baltimore Releases FSK Bridge Replacement Feasibility Study
The Maryland Port Administration published its feasibility study for the Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement, outlining two investment options and a projected Q4 2026 groundbreaking — restoring the Patapsco River's deep-draft container lane ahead of schedule.
Read Full Article →DAT Survey: 12% of Owner-Operators Exited Market in 2025 — Tightening Capacity Expected
DAT Freight & Analytics' Q1 2026 carrier capacity survey reveals 12% of owner-operators exited the market during 2025, while load-to-truck ratios on key SE lanes climbed to 4.2:1 — the tightest reading since Q3 2022.
Read Full Article →TIA 2026 Annual Conference: AI Load Matching Cuts Empty Miles by Up to 22%
At the Transportation Intermediaries Association's 2026 conference, multiple 3PLs reported AI-powered load-matching platforms reduced empty-mile ratios between 15% and 22%, with the most consistent gains on dense Southeast and Midwest corridors.
Read Full Article →FMCSA ANPRM Proposes Broker Bond Increase From $75K to $100K
The FMCSA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to raise the minimum freight broker surety bond from $75,000 to $100,000, citing inflation and a rise in cargo theft events linked to double-brokering.
Read Full Article →Virginia Port Authority Orders Six New ZPMC Cranes at Norfolk Terminal
The Virginia Port Authority ordered six new ZPMC Neo-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes for the Norfolk International Terminals, increasing crane productivity by 18% and enabling simultaneous handling of two 24,000-TEU vessels upon Q2 2027 delivery.
Read Full Article →Old Dominion Freight Line Announces 4.9% General Rate Increase Effective March 17
Old Dominion Freight Line will implement a 4.9% general rate increase across all LTL commodity classes effective March 17, 2026 — the third GRI from a major carrier this quarter, continuing a pattern of aggressive pricing in the LTL segment.
Read Full Article →Manifest 2026: Emerge, Transflo, and Project44 Unveil AI Freight Visibility Tools
At Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, three major freight-tech platforms announced AI-driven visibility and procurement updates: Emerge's dynamic pricing engine, Transflo's predictive ETA model, and Project44's real-time disruption scoring system.
Read Full Article →EPA Confirms 2027 Heavy-Duty Diesel NOx Standards Stand — No Delay
The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the 2027 heavy-duty diesel NOx standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr will proceed on schedule, rejecting industry petitions for a two-year delay. Engine manufacturers must certify new model-year vehicles by January 1, 2027.
Read Full Article →What's Moving Freight Markets Right Now?
Three converging factors are reshaping Southeast freight corridors in Q1 2026: Savannah's capacity surge is softening drayage rates on the I-95 corridor; FMCSA ELD audit tightening is pushing smaller carriers to consolidate or exit; and Norfolk Southern's intermodal growth is applying upward pressure on IMC fees from Charlotte to Atlanta. Carolina Expressways monitors these variables daily to keep your supply chain ahead of disruption.
Key Takeaways for Southeast Shippers
Savannah Channel Deepening Unlocks Larger Vessel Calls
The 47-foot channel depth enables 18,000+ TEU Neo-Panamax vessels to call Savannah on full load — reducing per-unit ocean freight costs and increasing direct Southeast port options for shippers currently routing through East Coast hubs.
Owner-Operator Attrition Will Tighten Spot Rates by Q2
DAT data showing 12% carrier exits in 2025 historically precedes spot rate increases 60–90 days later. Shippers running spot-heavy truckload programs should lock in contract coverage now before Q2 tightening materializes.
LTL GRI Cascade Demands Immediate Carrier Review
With three major LTL carriers posting GRIs this quarter — Old Dominion at 4.9% leading the wave — shippers should audit LTL spend, consolidate shipments into volume tiers, and evaluate partial truckload conversions on dense corridors.
Freight News FAQs
How often is the Carolina Expressways Freight News page updated?
Our editorial team reviews industry sources every business day and publishes new articles as significant regulatory, port, or market developments occur. The page header always reflects the most recent update date. For time-sensitive regulatory deadlines, we also send alerts to subscribers on our freight intel newsletter.
Which freight lanes does Carolina Expressways cover in its news analysis?
Our primary coverage focuses on Southeast U.S. freight lanes — primarily North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia — with secondary coverage of mid-Atlantic and national regulatory developments that affect our shipper clients. We pay particular attention to port activity at Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, and Baltimore.
Can I request a freight market analysis specific to my shipping lanes?
Yes — our freight strategy consultations include a lane-specific market analysis at no charge. We review your top origin-destination pairs, identify capacity risk factors from current market data, and provide rate benchmarks based on live transactional data. Use the "Book a Strategy Call" button below to schedule a 30-minute session.
Respond to Market Conditions with the Right Move
Use current freight intelligence to trigger the right Carolina Expressways service for your situation.
Full Truckload (FTL)
When spot rates spike due to carrier exits or seasonal demand surges, our contract FTL program locks in capacity at pre-negotiated rates — protecting your budget when the market tightens.
Explore FTL Solutions →Port Drayage
Savannah's Phase III expansion and new ZPMC cranes in Norfolk are creating faster vessel turnarounds — meaning container availability windows are shrinking. Our drayage fleet is positioned at both ports for same-day pickup.
Explore Drayage →Lane Health Check
Between carrier exits, GRI cascades, and intermodal capacity shifts, your current carrier mix may have blind spots. A 30-minute lane health check identifies overexposed lanes and recommends backup coverage before disruption hits.
Book a Lane Review →Freight Strategy Call
Market intelligence only creates value when it informs a decision. In 30 minutes, our freight strategists translate current news — rate trends, regulatory deadlines, port capacity — into a specific action plan for your supply chain.
Book a Strategy Call →