trucking capacity

Uber Freight thinks pendulum may start to swing soon

Mazen Danaf, an MIT-trained staff applied scientist and economist at Uber Freight, has been tracking the evolution of trucking capacity in the United States, trying to make sense of the dogged persistence of loose capacity in a challenging, depressed rates environment.

“Almost every mile driven in the spot market could be a losing mile,” Danaf said in a call with FreightWaves. “Even for large carriers who only go into the spot market 15% of the time, it doesn’t make sense except for a backhaul...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/uber-freight-thinks-pendulum-may-start-to-swing-soon

Contract rate decline puts capacity at risk

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Chart of the Week: National Truckload Index Linehaul Only, Outbound Tender Rejection Index – USA SONA...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/contract-rate-decline-puts-capacity-at-risk

Truckload capacity flips from unsustainably tight to unsustainably loose

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Chart of the Week: National Outbound Tender Reject Index – USA SONAR: OTRI.USA

For the first time...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckload-capacity-flips-from-unsustainably-tight-to-unsustainably-loose

Stability, consistency are just what owner-operators need

There wasn’t much to smile about in 2020 as uncertainty gripped supply chains, but the spot market had owner-operators grinning. For many months, the going was good. Spot rates soared above contract rates, giving smaller fleets the chance to maximize profitability on every trip. 

But the tide has swiftly turned.

SONAR: NTIL.USA and VCRPM1.USA.

Spot and contract rates, neck and neck for the past two years, have trended apart. The tango finally ended in late February, as FreightWaves SONAR shows...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stability-consistency-are-just-what-owner-operators-need

Loaded and Rolling: Trucking and CPG sales, White House freight data exchange

Truck drivers as a driver of CPG sales
(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

I was recently  tasked with filling in as a temporary expert for The Stockout newsletter. It turns out that drivers are conveniently placed at truck stops that offer a litany of consumer packaged goods. Can you name one sector that has outperformed the S&P 500 by about 3,100 basis points (bps) year to date? It turns out the convenience store (C-store) industry is that sector. This sector for CPG is noted as a less...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loaded-and-rolling-trucking-and-cpg-sales-white-house-freight-data-exchange

What does East Coast import shift mean for domestic transportation?

Chart of the Week: US Customs Maritime Import TEUs – Port of Los Angeles, Port of New York/New Jersey SONAR: CSTEU.USLAX, CSTEU.USNYC

The volume of TEUs clearing customs at the Port of New York and New Jersey has doubled versus this time last year, while import volumes have been cut in half at the Port of Los Angeles. Cost effectiveness is driving shippers to take advantage of the savings of going directly to the East Coast, where most of the consumption occurs. This action has led to a rapidly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-does-east-coast-import-shift-mean-for-domestic-transportation

Truckload linehaul spot rate drop accelerates under pressure from surging diesel prices

Stormy weather for the trucking industry. Photo: Jim Allen (FreightWaves)

FreightWaves’ Future of Supply Chain summit is being held this week in Northwest Arkansas, the epicenter of North American supply chains. If you aren’t able to attend, you are welcome to tune into our free live stream that will carry all of the content from the main stage. The event kicks off on Monday at 9 a.m. ET.

At the event, we will be introducing several new data products, including a new national index that is assessed and published every day (NTID.USA). This is based on the FreightWaves...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckload-linehaul-spot-rate-drop-accelerates-under-pressure-from-surging-diesel-prices

Trade war era pattern reemerging in trucking

Freight is moving shorter distances, compounding the effects of waning demand

Chart of the Week: Long haul Tender Volume Index, Tweener haul Tender Volume Index, Short haul Tender Volume Index, City haul Tender Volume Index – USA  SONAR: LOTVI.USA, TOTVI.USA, SOTVI.USA, COTVI.USA

Long-haul trucking demand has eroded at a faster rate than loads moving less than a half a day’s travel, compounding the easing process in the market. Since March 1, the long-haul outbound tender volume index (LOTVI) —...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trade-war-era-pattern-reemerging-in-trucking

Freight market volatility is the new/old normal

The Cass Freight Shipments Index shows wider ranges with less predictability over the past six years

Chart of the Week: Cass Freight Shipments – USA  SONAR: CFIS.USA

After enjoying one of the most stable stretches in modern history from 2010 to 2015, the freight market has been on a wild ride worthy of a theme park centerpiece. After six years of “anomalous” behavior, it is probably time to consider the “normal” five-year period in the first half of the 2010s the anomaly.

The Cass Freight...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-market-volatility-is-the-new-old-normal

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