# Intermodal Contract Rates Up 12% Year Over Year, Fuel Drives Two-Thirds

> Transcontinental intermodal contract rates rose 12% year over year in the fourth quarter, while Eastern lane rates increased 9%. Diesel price swings accounted for about two-thirds of the transcontinental increase and three-quarters of the Eastern increase; excluding fuel, rates rose 5% and 2%, respectively.

- Date: 2026-11-09 · published 2026-11-10T12:10:57.891Z
- Category: logistics · region United States · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/91632-intermodal-contract-rates-up-12-year-over-year-fuel-drives-two-thirds
- Commodities: [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Fuel surcharges are lifting intermodal freight costs, which can increase the delivered cost of feed commodities. Because the increase is largely fuel-driven, freight charges may ease if diesel prices fall, though the article reports rate data rather than a new supply disruption.

## Read by commodity

- DIESEL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIESEL | 2026-02-25 | [Fuel prices surge, but rates holding strong \| Overdrive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20779-fuel-prices-surge-but-rates-holding-strong-overdrive.md) | +17.3% | +54.9% |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-15 | [Grain Shipping Rates Surge 34% Year-Over-Year \| Feed & Grain](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16757-grain-shipping-rates-surge-34-year-over-year-feed-and-grain.md) | +1.1% | — |
| DIESEL | 2021-07-11 | [Fuel costs push rates higher faster in 2021 - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46244-fuel-costs-push-rates-higher-faster-in-2021-freightwaves.md) | -2.1% | -3.4% |
| DIESEL | 2017-08-31 | [Harvey effect: Texas rates climbing, diesel could jump 15-25 cents, high-dollar FEMA loads available \| Overdrive](https://feedsoft.ai/events/69624-harvey-effect-texas-rates-climbing-diesel-could-jump-15-25-cents-high-dollar.md) | +7.1% | +8.9% |
| DIESEL | 2017-08-31 | [US oil set for biggest monthly loss in over a year as floods hit demand](https://feedsoft.ai/events/69602-us-oil-set-for-biggest-monthly-loss-in-over-a-year-as-floods-hit-demand.md) | +7.1% | +8.9% |

## Sources

- carrieratlas.com: https://carrieratlas.com/news/intermodal-contract-rates-up-12-year-over-year-fuel-drives-two-thirds

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.