TRAFFIX’ September NAX Index Shows Cross-Border Freight Conditions Tightening as Capacity Crunch Meets Trade Uncertainty

Canada NAX climbs to 58 and Mexico NAX rises to 55, as limited truck availability overlaps with growing trade-policy uncertainty

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — TRAFFIX, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, today released its September 2026 NAX Index, showing that cross-border freight between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is harder to plan around this month as limited truck capacity overlaps with rising trade-policy uncertainty.

The Canada NAX climbed to 58 and the Mexico NAX rose to 55, with both scores landing above the Index’s 50-point threshold, signaling tighter-than-normal conditions. The NAX Index combines more than 10 economic, freight, and trade indicators into a monthly score for the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico corridors, giving shippers one number to track from month to month instead of piecing together separate signals on their own.

“Shipment volumes aren’t the issue this month, it’s the lack of truck capacity and more uncertainty on the trade side, especially with Canada,” said Alex Fuller, Vice President of Commercial Intelligence, at TRAFFIX. “That’s why we’re telling shippers to lock in capacity earlier than they normally would.”

Truck availability is the main pressure point heading into the fall, and TRAFFIX expects it to stay tight as Labor Day disruptions and shifting cross-border trade flows work through the network. Fuel costs are also trending up, which is keeping surcharges elevated, though TRAFFIX said capacity is still the bigger issue for shippers right now. Trade-policy uncertainty has increased too, adding more to think about on cost and shipment planning, particularly on U.S.-Canada lanes. Demand has stayed fairly steady, which suggests this month’s tightness is coming from capacity and policy rather than a jump in shipment volumes.

Based on the September NAX data, TRAFFIX recommends the following steps for shippers managing freight on U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico lanes:

– Review tariff exposure and product classifications for affected U.S.-Canada freight as part of total landed cost
– Protect committed carrier capacity on shipments with fixed pickup or delivery dates, rather than relying on last-minute coverage
– Build backup options around critical lanes, especially where a missed pickup could affect production or customer commitments
– Compare intermodal options on eligible long-haul freight where extra transit time is acceptable, since rail still offers savings over truckload on some lanes
– Watch the Canada corridor closely, as new trade measures are adding cost and planning questions on top of a market that was already tight

For time-sensitive shipments where a delay would affect delivery commitments or customer service levels, expedited freight is worth a look. For shipments with more flexible delivery windows, intermodal rail can help manage costs on longer cross-border lanes.

Published monthly by TRAFFIX, the NAX Index features corridor-specific scores, driver analyses, actionable shipper recommendations, and historical tracking to help logistics teams identify emerging trends and plan proactively.

For more information, check out the NAX Index. To learn more about TRAFFIX visit www.traffix.com.

About TRAFFIX
TRAFFIX is a third-party logistics provider serving the North American transportation industry since 1979. The company offers services including truckload, flatbed, intermodal, drayage, expedited, LTL, specialized government services, and managed transportation. Headquartered in Chicago, TRAFFIX employs more than 840 logistics professionals across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Michaela Dildine
LeadCoverage
michaela.d@leadcoverage.com

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Written By: EIN Presswire