Whisk Logistics Weekly Drayage Roundup — Week of August 23rd–29th, 2026

Ocean rates eased, San Pedro Bay’s near-term import forecast stepped down, weekend coverage widened at APM, and diesel moved sharply higher. Here are six things on our radar.

1. Shanghai–LA holds at $6,818

Drewry’s composite World Container Index decreased 1% to $4,473 per 40-foot container on August 27th. Shanghai–Los Angeles held at $6,818, while Shanghai–New York decreased 2% to $9,333. All rate moves are week over week. After last week’s 9% jump, the unchanged West Coast rate gives importers a week of stability.

2. Blank sailings fall from seven to four

Drewry counted seven transpacific blank sailings this week and four for next week. That shift indicates more scheduled capacity. With demand remaining resilient and carriers still adjusting schedules, Drewry expects rates to be less volatile next week. We are not tying this weekly blank-sailing change to a month-over-month capacity claim because the time bases differ.

3. San Pedro Bay imports dip, then rebuild

San Pedro Bay import forecast — Port of LA from Port Optimizer plus Port of Long Beach from CargoNav:

• This week (Aug 23rd – 29th): 231,914 TEU on 43 vessels — LA 134,069 on 24, Long Beach 97,845 on 19
• Next week (Aug 30th – Sep 5th): 220,976 TEU on 38 vessels — LA 123,581 on 20, Long Beach 97,395 on 18
• Two weeks out (Sep 6th – 12th): 240,801 TEU on 42 vessels — LA 143,406 on 24, Long Beach 97,395 on 18

On the LA side alone, next week is down 7.82% on the week and up 35.34% year over year. CargoNav’s Long Beach series remains a planning baseline: its projected import figures still repeat across the forward weeks.

Port Optimizer showed 11 vessels at berth, no vessels within 40 nautical miles, and a 0.0-day average wait for berth. Its August full-day port-level truck turn-time totals were 59 minutes for Los Angeles and 58 minutes for Long Beach.

4. Six terminals open Saturday first shift

For the weekend of August 29th–30th, sourced from the terminal sites:

• Saturday first shift: APM, Everport, TraPac, LBCT, ITS, and TTI are open.
• Saturday second shift: APM only.
• Sunday first shift: APM, TraPac automation only, and LBCT are open.
• Sunday second shift: APM only.

Fenix, Matson, PCT, Pier A, WBCT, and YTI are closed for both weekend days. That leaves six confirmed Saturday first-shift gates, three Sunday first-shift gates, and APM as the only second-shift option.

5. Yusen secures 30 more years at LA

The Los Angeles Harbor Commission unanimously approved a new 30-year lease with Yusen Terminals on August 27th. The agreement keeps YTI operating Berths 212–224 through September 30th, 2056, replacing a permit that was set to expire next month. Guaranteed rent increases $10.4 million, or 4.8%, over the first five years.

6. California diesel crosses $7

On-highway diesel per gallon, per EIA’s August 24th print:

• U.S. national — $5.652 this week, $5.454 last week, $5.313 a month ago
• California — $7.040 this week, $6.785 last week, $6.670 a month ago

National increased 19.8 cents on the week, or 3.6%, and 33.9 cents over four weeks, or 6.4%. California increased 25.5 cents on the week, or 3.8%, and 37.0 cents over four weeks, or 5.5%. California’s premium reached $1.388, up from $1.331 the prior week.

In closing....

The operating picture is mixed rather than disrupted. Ocean pricing softened, more transpacific capacity is scheduled, and the bay’s import forecast dips next week before rebuilding. Weekend gates provide several workable windows, diesel adds immediate cost pressure, and Yusen’s lease brings long-term terminal continuity.

That’s the week. See you next Friday.

— Whisk Logistics

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