August 2026 is arriving with a freight market that looks and feels like a classic peak season — elevated OTR spot rates, rising rejection rates, and intermodal volume reaching its highest weekly total of the year. The AAR’s latest data confirms what shippers are feeling on the ground: capacity is tightening across all major corridors, and the shippers who locked in intermodal earlier in the year are in a significantly better position than those who didn’t.
The Southeast continues to be a standout region. Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Charlotte are all seeing strong outbound intermodal demand as shippers move back-to-school and early holiday freight. If your customers have Southeast origins on long-haul lanes, intermodal is the right conversation to be having right now.
Source: Association of American Railroads (AAR), July 29, 2026. Next AAR release: August 5, 2026.
The national OTRI has climbed to 9.2% — entering the range that freight operators associate with genuine peak-season tightness. Carriers are becoming increasingly selective, particularly on longer lanes where driver time away from home is a factor. OTR spot rates are now running 65% above year-ago levels and the gap between spot and contract is at its widest point of 2026.
For shippers still moving all of their long-haul dry van freight by OTR, the cost and availability pressures are only going to intensify through August. Intermodal is not just cheaper right now — on many lanes, it is also more reliable.
| Lane | OTR vs. Intermodal | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast → Midwest Jacksonville / Atlanta / Charlotte → Chicago / Columbus / Detroit |
Intermodal saving 25–35% Peak demand building on SE outbound |
Very Strong |
| Northeast → West Coast Newark / NYC → Los Angeles / Oakland |
Intermodal saving 40–50% NE outbound OTRI above 10% |
Very Strong |
| Midwest → Southeast Chicago / Columbus → Jacksonville / Atlanta |
Intermodal saving 25–30% Strong CSX and NS southbound capacity |
Strong |
| US → Canada Any US origin → Toronto / Vancouver / Montreal |
Intermodal saving 18–25% CN and CP capacity confirmed |
Active |
| Short haul under 500 miles | OTR typically wins | OTR Better |
1. Peak season is no longer coming — it’s here. With national OTRI above 9% and intermodal volume at its highest weekly level of 2026, this is the market shippers were warned about heading into Q3. The window to lock in intermodal capacity at favorable pricing is closing. If your customers have Q3 freight that hasn’t been committed, reach out now — we can confirm capacity on most lanes same day.
2. Southeast outbound is the hottest market in the country. Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Charlotte are all seeing elevated OTR rejection rates and strong intermodal demand. Back-to-school inventory moves and early holiday positioning are both contributing. CSX and Norfolk Southern southbound and northbound capacity is strong — now is the time to move Southeast freight to intermodal if it isn’t already.
3. Watch diesel heading into August. National diesel prices have ticked up to $5.58/gallon and are trending higher as summer driving demand peaks. Every penny increase in diesel adds to the OTR cost advantage intermodal already holds. The fuel cost differential between rail and truck widens further from here through September.
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The Weekly Rail Report is published every Monday by LaserNet Jax — a direct Intermodal Marketing Company based in Jacksonville, FL. We hold railroad contracts with CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, CN Rail, and CP Rail, plus access to the full North American rail network. Data sourced from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), FreightWaves SONAR, DAT Trendlines, and industry market reports. All figures are for informational purposes; lane-specific rates vary and should be confirmed directly.