The Load Letter — May 28, 2026

What this episode covers

South Texas reefer just went through a 40% spike followed immediately by a 40% collapse in two weeks — and if you have produce lanes in your book, understanding what drove that whipsaw matters before it happens again. Today's briefing covers why South Texas reefer should be treated as a day-trading market right now, not a contract lane, the Supreme Court broker liability ruling one week in and why "we used a load board" is not a legal defense, and Permian Basin flatbed heating back up with rig counts climbing and oilfield freight moving fast in corridors that have been quiet all year. We also get into the STB conditionally accepting the UP-NS merger application and why rail uncertainty is a business development conversation for brokers serving industrial and automotive shippers, Nussbaum pushing first-year driver pay above $90,000 as a signal of where carrier costs are heading, and a Tyson Foods CEO transition that opens a procurement window for brokers who've been trying to get in the door. A full plate — start with the liability ruling.

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