A US agency has removed Chinese toy drones from its import ban list, reversing previous trade restrictions. The decision allows specific drone models to enter the US market again, easing supply constraints for retailers and consumers.

The agency updated its import regulations to exclude certain toy drones manufactured in China from the prohibited list. This change follows a review of the products' compliance with safety and security standards.

The removal from the ban list is expected to impact the availability and pricing of toy drones in the US market. Retailers can now resume imports of the affected models, which were previously blocked under the earlier restrictions.

The agency's action marks a shift in policy towards Chinese-made drone products. It reflects an assessment that the specific toy drones in question do not pose the risks that initially led to their inclusion on the import ban list.

Spot truckload rates increased in May even as freight volumes declined, driven by tighter capacity rather than rising demand, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. Several factors disrupted the supply of available trucks, including the CVSA International Roadcheck inspection blitz, Memorial Day weekend, and ongoing immigration enforcement that continues to shrink the available driver pool. The capacity constraints have led to higher rates across all equipment types, even as demand metrics softened.

Volume and Rate Trends

The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which measures demand for truckload services, fell across all three equipment types compared to April. Van TVI dropped 9% to 233, while refrigerated (reefer) TVI fell 10% to 172. Flatbed TVI saw the steepest decline, dropping 14% to 267. Despite lower volumes, spot rates increased significantly, reflecting tighter capacity and reduced truck supply.

Linehaul rates drove the pricing increases, with van linehaul up $0.20 to $2.16 per mile, reefer up $0.22 to $2.56, and flatbed up $0.17 to $2.78. Fuel surcharges remained elevated, ranging from 73 cents per mile for vans to 87 cents for flatbeds.

Contract vs. Spot Rates

Carriers have shifted capacity toward contract freight to take advantage of fuel surcharge programs, reducing truck supply on the open market. This shift has made the spot market more sensitive to disruptions like Roadcheck and holiday slowdowns. Notably, reefer spot rates crossed above contract rates in May at $3.35 per mile compared to $3.28 per mile, reflecting both capacity migration and seasonal pressure on temperature-controlled equipment.

Contract rates moved modestly higher, with van rates up $0.07 to $2.92 per mile, reefer up $0.06 to $3.28, and flatbed up $0.06 to $3.77. Year-over-year, contract rates increased significantly, with van rates up $0.54, reefer up $0.57, and flatbed up $0.70.

Industry Commentary

"Last month's lower volumes do not mean May was a weak freight market," said Dean Croke, principal industry analyst at DAT. "The capacity supply has come down to meet demand, and carriers in the spot market are being compensated for it. Add in the migration of capacity toward contract freight for fuel surcharge certainty, and you have a spot market that's tighter than load volumes alone would suggest."

The DAT Truckload Volume Index measures monthly changes in loads with a pickup date during that month, using a baseline of 100 equal to the number of loads moved in January 2015. Benchmark spot rates reflect invoice data for hauls of 250 miles or more, offering a consistent view of truckload demand and spot rate trends across the United States and Canada.