Winter Storm Fern Tightens U.S. Trucking Capacity, Prolonging Holiday Season Rate Surge

Widespread disruptions from heavy snow, ice, and subzero temperatures impact key freight corridors, exacerbating capacity constraints across dry van, reefer, and flatbed segments.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:23am

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As the remnants of Winter Storm Fern linger across much of the United States, supply chain professionals are grappling with tightened trucking capacity that has effectively extended the elevated rate environment from the 2025 holiday peak season into late January 2026. The storm, which barreled through from January 23-25, dumped more than 20 inches of snow in some areas, caused thousands of flight cancellations, and led to power outages affecting millions, forcing carriers to implement detours, surcharges, and reduced operations.

Why it matters

The widespread disruptions from Winter Storm Fern have exacerbated capacity constraints in key freight markets, leading to a prolonged surge in spot rates that was not anticipated after the holiday season. This will impact supply chain operations and costs for businesses relying on trucking services.

The details

Key freight corridors in the Southern Plains, Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast bore the brunt of the storm, with interstates like I-20 and I-85 facing closures due to ice and downed power lines. Tender rejection percentages suddenly increased in major freight markets, especially Chicago, Harrisburg, and Dallas, in the lead-up to the storm and persisted afterward. Carriers are now rejecting 10.7% of loads out of Chicago and 11.9% of loads out of Harrisburg, and the national average rejection rate has spiked to 11.5%.

  • Winter Storm Fern barreled through from January 23-25, 2026.
  • The storm dumped more than 20 inches of snow in some areas.

The players

SONAR

A freight data and analytics platform that provides real-time insights into the transportation industry, including the Tender Rejection Index which measures the percentage of outbound loads tendered by shippers and subsequently rejected by carriers.

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The takeaway

The prolonged impact of Winter Storm Fern on trucking capacity will continue to strain supply chains and drive up transportation costs for businesses, highlighting the need for greater resilience and flexibility in logistics operations.