RENO, Nev. — The ITS Logistics U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index for April shows all port and rail regions elevated to levels of concern, according to a statement released April 16.
The statement notes that the Strait of Hormuz crisis, combined with four years of trucking capacity exits to drive higher fuel costs amid surging seasonal demand. The convergence is producing the first sustained transportation cost pressure since the post-COVID pandemic freight cycle, compounded by rising cargo theft and tightening driver regulation enforcement.
“Shippers should be prepared for post-COVID era increases in transportation costs this month,” said Paul Brashier, vice president of global supply chain for ITS.
“Trucking capacity exits over the past 48 months are finally being felt in all regions, with the trend accelerated by ongoing federal and state enforcement efforts to address non-domiciled drivers and English-language proficiency standards,” he continued. “This decrease in capacity is now converging with increases in tariff-driven domestic material sourcing and geopolitical conflict.”
According to ITS, the Strait of Hormuz remains the single largest disruptor to global freight flows this spring. Citing a report from Project44, ITS notes that since the conflict began Feb. 28, more than 34,000 shipping routes have been diverted from the Strait.
Total containerized imports reached 2,353,611 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in March, up 12.4% month over month from February but down 1.1% compared to March 2025, per Descartes. The monthly rebound aligns with typical seasonal patterns, though China-origin imports declined 2.3% from the prior month and 6.7% year-over-year — a trajectory consistent with ongoing tariff-driven sourcing shifts away from Chinese manufacturing.
In addition to diesel prices, which remain elevated despite a recent drop, ITS points to federal and state enforcement efforts targeting non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and English-language proficiency compliance as factors. In addition, the ITS statement notes, freight fraud and cargo theft add risk on top of the capacity squeeze. Estimated fraud losses surged 60% in 2025, according to industry analyst firm Verisk CargoNet, expanding in target scope, average theft value, and operational complexity.
“In addition to trucking capacity, theft and freight fraud also continue to be problematic in rail ecosystems, especially at locations where freight is interlining between railroad providers,” Brashier said. “Memphis, Chicago and LA are (areas) of concern at this time.”
The ITS Logistics U.S. Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index forecasts port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf regions. Ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted in the index for both the West Inland and East Inland regions.
Click here for a full, comprehensive copy of the index with expected forecasts for the U.S. port and rail ramps, including the index’s new Inland Transportation Risk Outlook, which provides regional insight into key events and conditions influencing the trucking market.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
