A hurricane is coming for the Gulf Coast

Diesel drops again

Author

Reed Loustalot
October 09, 2026

TRUCK PARKING CLUB

Friday Bulletin • October 9, 2026

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The Big Thing

A Hurricane Is Headed for the I-10 Corridor

It took until October, but the Atlantic finally produced its first hurricane of the year, and it is aimed at one of the busiest freight stretches in the South. Isaias became a hurricane Wednesday night, the latest first hurricane of a season in 121 years, and it kept strengthening as it crossed the Gulf.

Isaias grew into a Category 2 hurricane on Thursday. Landfall is forecast for late Friday night or early Saturday between Gulf Shores and Pensacola. Wind shear should weaken it somewhat before it comes ashore. A hurricane warning runs from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, across the Alabama coast to Florida's Bay/Gulf County line. A storm surge warning covers the coast from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida's Suwannee River, with surge of up to 7 feet possible on the Mississippi and Alabama coasts.

The wind is only half of it. Forecasters expect 3 to 7 inches of rain from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, up to 10 inches in spots, and heavy rain spreading inland across the Southeast as far as the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas, ground that was already soaked. Florida has declared a state of emergency in 25 counties and Alabama in 40.

What this means for you. If your weekend runs I-10 between New Orleans and Tallahassee, or I-65 and I-59 down to the coast, plan on it going sideways. Rain and possibly tropical storm force winds can reach the coast by midday Friday, hours ahead of landfall. Expect flooded low spots, closed ramps, and coastal shippers and receivers shutting their doors early. Once the storm clears, relief and rebuild freight pulls trucks into the region fast, and parking near the coast gets scarce right when everyone needs it. If emergency declarations bring hours-of-service relief, it covers drivers hauling direct emergency assistance, not regular freight, so read the declaration before you lean on it.

Don't race it to the coast. Shut down early, park off the water and out of the low ground, and let it pass. Check the latest track at nhc.noaa.gov before you roll.

Mile Markers

Where the numbers landed this week.

Diesel: $6.199/gal, down 18.3 cents and its second straight weekly drop. It still sits about $2.49 above where it was a year ago. (EIA)

Spot rates (all-in, national average): Van $3.13, Reefer $3.69, Flatbed $3.71 per mile, up 7 to 11 cents on the week. This time linehaul did most of the lifting, with van up 7 cents, flatbed up 6, and reefer up 2. Linehaul is running 28% to 34% above a year ago. (DAT)

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News

Mack and Volvo Recall Trucks for Loose Bezels and Tanker Brakes. Mack is recalling 3,096 Anthem (2026 to 2027) and Pioneer (2025 to 2027) trucks because intake and grille bezels can work loose and end up in the road. A second recall covers 850 Mack Anthem and Pioneer trucks and 392 Volvo VNL and VNR trucks built with the tanker package, where a software error in axle load calculations can cut braking performance when you pull a smoothbore tanker. Dealers will fix both at no charge, and owner letters go out by the end of November. If you run one of these, check your VIN on NHTSA.gov. Read more on Fleet Maintenance

Factories Kept Growing in September. The ISM Manufacturing PMI came in at 54.5%, the ninth straight month of expansion. New orders picked up speed to 55.3%, and customers' inventories are still running too low, which usually points to more production ahead. Busy factories mean inbound parts and outbound product, and both ride on trucks. Read more on IndustryWeek

Trucking Jobs Rose Again. Truck transportation employment climbed to about 1.473 million in September, up 2,600 on the month and the third straight monthly gain, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. Fleets are adding people slowly rather than flooding the market, which keeps capacity tight while the freight builds. Read more on BLS.gov

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⭐ Review of the Week

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