September reflects a North American drayage market entering the final stretch of peak season with transportation capacity tightening across both port and inland networks. Import demand remains elevated as retailers and manufacturers continue positioning inventory ahead of the holiday season, while stronger-than-expected trans-Pacific volumes are expected to maintain momentum through China’s Golden Week. Drayage rates are expected to be 8.2% year-over-year.

The National Drayage Spot Market Index is expected to remain elevated through September as peak-season container flows compete for increasingly constrained trucking capacity. While conditions vary by gateway, drayage providers serving major ports and inland intermodal markets are likely to experience continued pressure on equipment availability, driver capacity, appointment flexibility, and terminal turn times. The tightening broader truckload environment is particularly significant for drayage because reduced driver productivity and increased regulatory enforcement can limit the ability of carriers to absorb unexpected volume surges or extended terminal delays.

West Coast gateways remain supported by robust trans-Pacific demand heading toward Golden Week, keeping container activity elevated at Southern California and other major Pacific gateways. The continued strength of Asia-U.S. trade suggests that peak-season activity may extend deeper into September than traditionally expected. At the same time, environmental investment at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach continues to accelerate as the region advances clean-air initiatives and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, reinforcing the longer-term transition toward zero-emission drayage operations. Meanwhile, carriers are attempting to implement peak-season surcharges and general rate increases on the trans-Atlantic as they seek to strengthen pricing heading into the fourth quarter. These developments highlight a global container market that remains highly dynamic, with service-network adjustments capable of influencing vessel schedules and ultimately the timing of container availability at U.S. ports.

East and Gulf Coast supply chains face a different source of uncertainty as Panama Canal operating restrictions create another variable for cargo moving between Asia and U.S. gateways. Reduced Neopanamax transit availability and draft restrictions could affect vessel scheduling, cargo loading decisions, and service reliability during the peak shipping period. For drayage providers, changes in vessel arrival patterns can translate into concentrated container surges at terminals, creating periods of increased appointment demand and equipment utilization even when overall monthly volumes remain manageable.

For the drayage sector, September will continue to reward proactive planning and disciplined execution. Strong container flows combined with tighter trucking capacity, regulatory enforcement, terminal appointment constraints and potential vessel-schedule disruptions increase the risk of containers remaining at terminals longer than anticipated. Effective free-time management will therefore remain critical as importers seek to minimize demurrage, detention and storage exposure while maintaining reliable inland transportation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, diesel now averages $5.43 per gallon, up from $3.75 in September 2025.