The Morning Mile — Tuesday, Nov. 3

Good morning, drivers. Here is what you need to know to start Tuesday, November 3.

A bridge is gone in Colorado: CDOT calls the U.S. 160 bridge over the Piedra River a “bridge failure” with no workable replacement for a week or two. Pagosa Springs is largely cut off; the First Street Bridge inside town has reopened, but the through route has not.

Two rate boards, two arrows: DAT’s linehaul rates for the week ending Oct. 31 rose to $2.23 for van, $2.71 for reefer and $2.61 for flatbed, while Truckstop’s all-in rates fell for all three — the difference is the fuel component.

Diesel eases, barely: Oil fell more than 6% Monday on U.S.–Iran diplomacy hopes, AAA put diesel at $6.292 and GasBuddy at $6.281 — relief on top of distillate stocks about 10% below the five-year average.

Oral-fluid tests: still no: HHS says no laboratory is certified yet, so DOT drug tests stay urine-based; comments on the lab proposal close Dec. 28.

Pamt’s 12th straight truckload loss: A 109.1% operating ratio despite an 11% sequential rate gain — diesel timing and driver costs did it, the carrier says.

FTR sees utilization near 100%: Eric Starks expects contract rates to climb toward 20% in 2027, with small carriers’ fuel cash flow the weak point.

That’s the mile. Drive safe — full stories are on the homepage.