The Vector Freight Brief: Sample Issue

The Vector Freight Brief · Week of Oct 12, 2026 · Sample issue

Diesel holds above $6, flatbed stays tight, and the Thanksgiving bans are five weeks out

Fuel

U.S. on-highway diesel was $6.179/gal in EIA's Oct 12 reading (−2.0¢ w/w, +$2.51 y/y). Northwest prices ticked up: the West Coast excluding California was $6.503 and the Rocky Mountain region was $6.302. (EIA)

Capacity

DAT's flatbed load-to-truck ratio fell back to 36.6 after the quarter-end rush, but it's still about 35% tighter than a year ago, with truck posts down more than 20%. Project freight (infrastructure, energy, data centers) is keeping heavy equipment moving. (DAT, C.H. Robinson)

Plan ahead: Thanksgiving

• OR: nothing over 8 ft 6 in from noon Wed, Nov 25 until sunrise Mon, Nov 30 (limited exceptions).
• WA: restricted from noon Wed, Nov 25 through Fri, Nov 27.
• ID: Thanksgiving is a designated holiday. Red routes stop at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Route watch: Puget Sound curfews

Oversize loads over 10 ft wide are off I-405 from 6–9 a.m. and 3–7 p.m. on weekdays, and northbound I-5 out of Vancouver, WA is closed to them from 3–6 p.m. Build those windows into any Portland-to-Seattle ETA. Full Washington guide →

Winter is coming

When WSDOT posts traction-advisory or chains-required signs, permit loads stop. Leave extra days for Snoqualmie and the Cascade passes from now through spring.

You're receiving The Vector Freight Brief because you subscribed at vectorlogisticsllc.com. This is a summary, not legal advice. Confirm permits with the issuing state.