President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that includes federal highway designation for portions of Interstate 27 in Texas and New Mexico as part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor project
Cold weather affects your vehicle in more ways than you might expect:
Motor Carrier Act of 1980, OTR driver shortage, consumer confidence falls
NATSO and other retail fuels industry trade groups urge states not to join the Transportation Climate Initiative Program.
Zach and Anthony cover the latest trends impacting the cold chain with special guest Zac Rogers. Apple Podcast Spotify Sticher Watch the video
Zach and Anthony cover the latest in the logistics industry with special guest, Zac Rogers Apple Podcast Spotify Sticher Watch the video
Zach and Anthony discuss the mini-bid trend and the economic uncertainty going into 2021. Presented by Amazon Freight. Amazon Freight Apple Podcast Spotify Sticher Watch the video
Anthony and Zach have Dr. Matt Waller, dean of Sam M. Walton College of Business, professor of supply chain management at Arkansas, on to discuss the importance of leadership in […]
Anthony and Zach discuss the latest Logistics Managers’ Index results with guest Dr. Zac Rogers as well as what is driving the continued tightening of the domestic freight market. Presented […]
Zach and Anthony go over surprising trends that are popping up going into the second half of 2020, and the headwinds facing the economy. Apple Podcast Spotify Sticher Watch the […]
Anthony and Zach discuss what to make of the recent recovery in volumes and what is happening today that may affect capacity later in the year as well as recent […]
Zach and Anthony go over the latest economic trends within the freight industry and bring on special guest, Zac Rogers to breakdown the Logistics Managers Index and his analysis of how the COVID-19 pandemic is effecting the industry.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin stated the US unemployment rate may reach 20% in the short term if significant fiscal stimulus action was not taken. We estimated whether the modern economy could reach such levels.
Zach and Anthony discuss current economic trends in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and what’s to come.
Spot freight may only account for 10-20% of total freight moved in the U.S., but its activity paints the picture of the entire freight market. Tom Mallon joins to discuss the direction of rates in 2020. Also; Coronavirus update along with the current state of the market as well as recent economic releases.
Lead Economist, Anthony Smith takes the reigns on this macro edition of Freightonomics. He chats with a diverse panel of guests about ways to optimize performance across business areas in […]
Anthony and Zach break down the less-than-truckload sector and talk about its connection with truckload along with giving a quick update on the latest economic and freight market trends.
The overall GDP number is not very useful when looking for insight into freight conditions in the economy. The U.S. economy is dominated by the service sector, which includes segments like healthcare, education and financial services. These areas make up over half of all of the economic activity in the U.S., but do not play a significant role in freight movements in the economy. As a result, as long as the service sector is healthy, the U.S. economy can continue to grow even if the production and transportation of goods is stalling.
Market Expert Anthony Smith writes about the factors that will affect the U.S. economy in 2020 and what that willl mean for business.
Tender rejections above 10 for the first time in 2019, volumes are holding and holiday rates are cheery.
Critical events caused more panic than actual disruption to supply and demand.
The German economy shrunk by 0.1 percent in the second quarter of 2019, sparking fears of a recession.
The marketplace for truckload transportation is fragmented and opaque. Relationships between shippers and carriers are tenuous at best, forged and broken by wild swings in capacity availability and rates per mile. In this white paper, Transfix and FreightWaves define the problems distorting the marketplace for truckload transportation, discuss how carriers think about their assets, explain the role of technology in reducing empty miles, and sketch out the economic dynamics that come into play when the marketplace is optimized to free up capacity at the right price.
July PPI data showed another decline in trucking rates as yearly growth will likely turn negative soon.
Donald Broughton writes a thought-provoking commentary about how technology has killed inflation.
The Fed cut interest rates for the first time in over a decade. Shippers and carriers should benefit as the economy looks to reaccelerate
Donald Broughton’s third article about the impact of the gross domestic product and how it can be useful for business intelligence and forecasting is a must-read.
Job growth rebounded nicely in June as the economy added 224,000 workers to payrolls during the month. The transportation and logistics sector was one of the many areas of strength in June, led by improved gains among parcel and trucking companies.
Donald Broughton writes the second part of his look at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and how transportation professionals can tweak GDP numbers to better understand and forecast the business environment they are competing in.
Market expert Donald Broughton explains how the U.S. gross domestic product can be a valuable tool by trucking companies (and others).
Retail and industrial activity improved, providing some stability for freight Economic data from the goods side of the economy showed some signs of life in May, as growth in retail […]
President Trump’s recent announcement of tariffs on Mexico marks a sharp departure from previous moves with potentially disastrous results for U.S. businesses and supply chains
FreightWaves is providing a forum – Market Voices – for a number of market experts. Last week I wrote about why the ongoing decline in lumber shipments and the ongoing […]
Transport ministers from 60 countries met at Leipzig to discuss strategies and the implication of global carbon emissions.
The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative aims to create seamless freight movement between Europe and Asia, but the sustainability aspect of the project is still unclear.
Market expert Brian Aoaeh writes about the world’s problems with trash and garbage – and what must be done before it overwhelms humanity.
Market expert Cathy Roberson writes about issues that are impacting the air freight market.
Donald Broughton explores the technology economy and its impact on the overall economy.
April shipments were down 3.2 percent year-over-year, prompting Boughton to acknowledge “material and growing downside risk to the economic outlook” in the latest Cass Freight Index Report.
PPI data showed some firming in overall inflation, though trucking rates fell again in April
Long thought of as a global exchange company for buying and selling securities, Nasdaq has used its marketplace expertise and technology knowhow to leverage itself into a partner and provider […]
Trade would sort itself out in the longer run post-Brexit, but it is hard to forecast when that would happen.
The Economic Roundup is designed to synthesize the events of the past month as they relate to freight markets, and provide a guide on trends to keep an eye on in the upcoming month.
Market expert Scott Case has written about the use of dynamic pricing in airfreight. Long-used to sell passenger seats on airplanes, dynamic pricing is new to airfreight – but will likely be used extensively going forward. Read Scott’s take on the why’s and wherefore’s of the move.
Growth in the U.S. economy improved 3.2 percent during the first quarter, but details related to freight demand suggest a weaker environment to start the year.
Retail rebounded from a disappointing February in March, with the growth rate climbing from 2.2 percent to 3.6 percent year-over-year. It was one of the strongest rebounds seen in the retail sector since mid-2017.
Air cargo market expert Jesse Cohen writes about the ongoing efforts to increase security in air cargo operations. Read about the latest measures and how they impact the movement of freight.
J.B. Hunt’s (NASDAQ: JBHT) earnings report have some questioning if the truckload (TL) carriers are likely to miss earnings now and how will the stocks perform moving forward.
Industrial output in the economy continued to struggle in March, as a stalled manufacturing sector continues to weigh on freight demand in the economy.
Job growth rebounded nicely in March as employers added nearly 200,000 workers to payrolls during the month. This strength in hiring did not translate to the trucking industry however, where payrolls declined for the first time in nearly a year.
Schneider Logistics published its 2019 Transportation Industry Review, arming shippers with the information they need to make short- and long-term distribution plans, budget freight costs and provide industry context to their broader audiences.
Even if the border remains open to freight, shutting out the ~500k workers, students, shoppers, and tourists who legally cross each day would still have a major economic impact.
Retail activity declined unexpectedly in February, as poor weather contributed to the loss in momentum for consumer spending
The monthly economic roundup summarizes key developments in the macroeconomy over the past month and highlights trends worth watching headed into April.
Industrial production rose by a paltry 0.1% in February, restrained by a second consecutive decline in manufacturing activity
Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure eased further in February, as a gain in goods prices was restrained by the service sector. Industry detail showed that overall trucking rates declined in February, led by the largest decline in long-distance truckload rates in four years.
Retail sales rebounded in January despite big declines in motor vehicle and gasoline sales. Gains in core sales helped to stabilize the retail sector during the month, erasing much of the decline from December 2018.
Job growth fell well short of expectations in February, as the economy added the fewest workers to payrolls since 2017. Hiring slumped in several industries during the month, but trucking employment increased for the ninth consecutive month.
Talks between the U.S. and China have made significant progress over the last several weeks, and the two sides appear to be closer to a deal than at any time over the past several months. However, while the restoration of positive trade relations will help the trade outlook, other factors are likely to keep trade growth subdued going forward.
A summary of the key developments in the U.S. economy over the past month and highlighted trends to watch in March.
The U.S. trade deficit in goods widened to a record in December 2018 as a sizeable decline in goods exports was paired with a jump in goods imports. This reversed the decline in the deficit from the previous month, and the drop in goods exports sent yearly growth into negative territory for the first time in over two years.
Retail sales tumbled by the largest amount in over nine years in December 2018, providing a disappointing end to what was otherwise a strong year for the retail sector. The 2018 holiday season ended up well below expectations, and introduces some fresh concerns about the strength of the economy going forward.
Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih announced on January 26 that the country is raising $426 billion in private sector investments, which will include roughly $36 billion for logistics infrastructure according to Reuters.
The U.S economy added over 300,000 jobs in January, marking the best monthly performance in nearly a year. Transportation and logistics employment continued to increase at an impressive pace, led by healthy gains in warehousing, parcel and trucking jobs.
The monthly economic roundup is a summary of recent event in the economy and a guide for key trends worth monitoring over the next month.
Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn Technology Group, which assembles Apple’s iPhone product in China, announced on Saturday that it has raised over $213 million for what it described as a “mega-development” in India.
Despite the temporary end to the government shutdown announced late Friday, the U.S. Census Bureau failed today to release its report on manufacturers’ durable goods shipments, inventories, and orders for the month of December 2018.
December was a month of growing uncertainty and severe declines in the U.S. financial markets. The only thing that seems to be growing is the level of ambiguity in everyone’s outlook.
Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure calmed further in December, weighed down again by declines in energy prices. Industry detail showed that trucking rates continued to surge, however, driven by another large gain in long-distance trucking rates.
Economic and freight indicators are mixed, with some suggesting a downturn is coming, but others pointing to continued growth.
Manufacturers’ new orders for durable goods posted a modest rebound in November, driven by a surge in aircraft orders. Orders excluding transportation fell for the second time in three months. This is the latest in a string of disappointing releases from manufacturing, raising some questions about the health of one of the key drivers of freight demand headed into next year.
Recent results show that retail activity continued to expand in November, in a sign that one of the key components of freight demand remains healthy at the end of the year. Results from the manufacturing sector were far less encouraging however, as activity stalled during the month.
Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure calmed in November, weighed down by declines in gasoline prices. Industry detail showed that trucking rates continues to surge, however, driven by another large gain in long-distance trucking rates.
On today’s episode, Craig Fuller, Dean Croke, and Ibrahiim Bayaan discuss ELDs and their impact on driver hours, trends in violations, and economic outlook.
It seemed like the stuff of posturing and hot air. It was hard to see anything substantive changing from the weekend meetings of the G20 nations in Argentina. Will something more than kicking-the-can come from the concessions?
The size of the US goods trade deficit with the rest of the world increased again in October, as a large decline in exports and a small gain in imports pushed the deficit near record levels. The total value of traded goods fell slightly during the month but is still considerably higher than at this point last year despite significant changes to trade policy.
The second FreightWaves book, Freight Revolution: the supply chain will never be the same, sponsored by Uber Freight, is now available for download.
2018 may have seen tight capacity and the strongest economy on record since the Great Recession, but what will 2019 look like?
Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure jumped at the start of the 4th quarter, though core price gains were more modest. Industry detail showed that trucking rates posted another solid gain in October, with big gains in long-distance rates offsetting declines in LTL.
Will fundamental policy changes happen over the next two years leading up to the general election regardless of which party wins out?
FreightWaves discussed how the midterm elections impact the economy at large, and specifically how it pertains to freight. What are the implications to the economic indicators regardless of the winner?
Growth in the US economy slowed slightly in the third quarter of the year, but remains strong headed into the end of 2018 and consumers and inventory building carried the load.
Housing starts fell more than expected in September, as the impact of Hurricane Florence caused a massive decline in construction activity in the South. This put a damper on what would otherwise be a decent report and leaves some uncertainty about the underlying strength of one of the key components of freight demand.
Industrial output continued to push ahead in September, signaling that one of the key drivers of freight demand remained solid at the end of the 3rd quarter. Production was restrained slightly by the impact from Hurricane Florence, but not enough to prevent growth in the sector from reaching a near 8-year high.
Retail activity eked out a meager gain for the second consecutive month, as a sharp decline in spending at restaurants weighed down the headline numbers. Retail conditions remain generally solid, however, as the sector looks poised for healthy growth to round out the year.
The Freight Movement is in partnership with Arrive Logistics …Arrive Logistics has partnered with freight analyst and economist Donald Broughton to teach shippers how to take advantage of freight flow trends to benefit their business.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted today, posting its biggest loss since May 29; meanwhile the S&P 500 is on a losing streak that hasn’t been matched in upwards of 2 years.
Data on producer prices shows that overall inflation pressure continued to stabilize at the end of the 3rd quarter, rising modestly in September. Rates within trucking posted stronger growth during the month, led by big increases in LTL pricing.
FreightWaves triples the lanes available for the tender rejection indices along with diesel price and volume data. Highly regarded Institute for Supply Management indices have also been added to deepen the macro-economic section.
Job growth stumbled in September as Hurricane Florence likely disrupted results during the month. Unemployment continued to trend down in the economy however, and labor market conditions remain generally tight. Hiring within trucking continued to advance during the month, growing for the 5th consecutive month.
Survey data from the manufacturing and service sectors continue to point towards robust growth in the 3rd quarter. Manufacturing activity slipped slightly from multi year highs during the month, but service activity has pushed to record highs despite shortages in labor and trucking capacity.
Rising driver wages and fuel costs pushed up the cost per mile to operate a commercial vehicle in 2017, according to an annual report released by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The group said it cost $1.69 per mile to operate a truck last year, up 6% from 2016’s cost.
A roundup of economic data releases and events over the past month, and view of trends worth watching in October. Freight demand conditions remained generally solid during the month, though international trade and housing remain trouble areas. Supply within trucking looks to be expanding, and hires in the industry continued to climb
The US trade deficit in goods widened for the third consecutive month in August as another decline exports was paired with a modest increase in imports. The total value of traded volume fell for the month, but remains generally strong relative to last year.
Factory orders for durable goods rose in August, driven by a large increase in commercial aircraft orders. Orders historically are a leading indicator of future shipments, and August’s results suggest that freight demand on the durable side of the economy should remain solid.
Both new home sales and home starts showed some improvement in August, ending months of disappointing activity. Existing home sales failed to expand for the fifth straight month however, and housing in general remains a weak area for freight demand.
The smartest minds on Wall Street use charting analytics to quickly identify and then track trends in multiple data sets. Why? Because it works. And now freight professionals are learning how to do the same.
