Logistics Pulse Newsletter — Lower LTL Rates, Smarter Payments, and Market Shifts Ahead
Welcome to Logistics Pulse
This week’s top news in trucking and logistics
Freight markets are shifting fast as 2025 winds down. Shippers are benefiting from lower LTL rates and new ways to pay faster and smarter, while global and domestic headwinds continue to shift the landscape. A blocked FMCSA rule, rising fuel prices, and evolving trade and ocean capacity trends are all reshaping how freight moves — and how shippers plan for what’s next.
Top articles this week
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🚛 Lower LTL Rates — We’re always working to get you the best rates from the best carriers
Mothership has secured new, significantly lower LTL rates with top carriers XPO and Forward Air — part of our long-term commitment to make national LTL shipping more affordable and transparent. Beyond lower base pricing, accessorials like liftgate and limited-access fees have also been reduced. By leveraging our scale and growing shipment volume, Mothership continues to earn competitive pricing with top carriers, putting you on the same playing field as the largest shippers in the country — without requiring high-volume commitments.
How will lower rates shape your shipping strategy as we head into 2026?
What’s New at Mothership: Seamless Payments, Transparent Shipments
We’ve introduced a new Prepay feature that enables shippers to pre-fund their accounts instantly, book shipments faster, and unlock greater cost savings. With Prepay, you can load money into your available balance directly from the Mothership dashboard. This helps you save on costly credit card fees, keep funds instantly available for booking, and maintain complete visibility into your balance activity—including payment history, usage, available funds, and any refunds applied. For international customers, Prepay also helps prevent bank flags and avoid high international transaction fees.
How much could you save by eliminating card fees from your freight spend?
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In Other News
DC court blocks FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL rule
A D.C. court has blocked the FMCSA’s rule restricting non-domiciled CDLs, citing procedural flaws and potential strain on the driver workforce. The decision offers temporary relief for carriers watching capacity closely.
Port of Long Beach cargo volumes duck tariff dips in 2025
Container throughput hit near-record highs in 2025 as importers front-loaded shipments ahead of tariff changes. Analysts expect a slowdown later this year, but for now, steady inbound flows are keeping capacity tight and coastal logistics humming.
Read more on Supply Chain Dive
Tighter inventories could boost trucking demand
Retailers and manufacturers have drawn down inventories to pre-pandemic levels, setting the stage for a rebound in truckload and LTL demand heading into 2026. Expect shippers to replenish stock as consumer spending stabilizes.
Ocean rates tested by capacity conundrum
Carriers are cutting sailings and tweaking rates to balance excess capacity with softer demand. The ocean market’s volatility could influence inland rates as import volume patterns shift in Q1.
US suspends port fees on Chinese ships
In a bid to ease global trade tensions, the U.S. has temporarily suspended docking fees on Chinese-built vessels — a move aimed at stabilizing shipping routes after recent disruptions. How long this détente lasts remains to be seen.
Benchmark diesel price rises to its highest level 16 months