Shippers

In this sensitive market, small changes to the balance have deep, long lasting impacts.

Will Hurricane Ida impact freight contracts? Will carriers move from shippers’ contracted freight to the spot market?

The rise in volumes continues to outpace the rise in rejection rates, and spot rates keep climbing.

Only 37% of shippers report using in-transit visibility solutions

We’re two weeks into the third quarter, a time when seasonal freight movement moderates ahead of the back-to-school season and the eventual peak holiday season. Thus far, the moderation simply hasn’t materialized.

While most of the focus has been on capacity constraints for ocean containers and truckload freight, e-commerce shippers remain concerned about the impacts on the last mile.

Companies want transparency from their partners, and end consumers want to know exactly when their packages are going to arrive.

As shippers work to fulfill the orders from Prime Day, there are many lessons that can be gleaned to improve the overall customer experience.

Reefer rejection rates tumbled once again over the past week, and the national reefer rejection average is now below 40% for the first time since the second week of September.

A dramatic shift away from services and toward goods brought a surge in demand for The Home Depot products. With freight capacity strained, the team at The Home Depot strengthened […]

Unlike freight demand, the typical things we see play out on the capacity side of the equation prior to a holiday have not (at least to this point).

are pumping across the country, but it seems routing guides have finally shown signs of improvement. Pair the declining electronic tenders with declining tender rejections, fewer spot volumes, and both contract and spot rates headed lower, the picture of an improving environment can be visualized.

Freight demand is not going to abate in the next few months, and there will not be any meaningful addition to fleet capacity in the meantime.

This white paper explores the challenges presented by the RFP process.

Consumer spending tapered off this week, but the savings rate is so high, Americans have a war chest unlike in any recent period. And, inventories remain depleted across many segments, so the freight industry won’t feel the direct brunt of any shift back to services anytime soon.

Join us as we share how a modern drop-and-hook service can offer shippers flexible, nationwide capacity with the reliability they’ve come to expect from asset-based carriers.

Schneider, a premier provider of trucking, intermodal and logistics services, has expanded its digital marketplace – Schneider FreightPower® – to shippers of all sizes.

Service-based spending categories like airlines, lodging and restaurants all were positively impacted by the stimulus, but the top 5 biggest growth segments came in goods. With the roaring consumer economy, blossoming industrial recovery, white-hot housing market and historically depleted inventories, there’s very little outside of severe inflation that could derail this trucking market.

TriumphPay is acquiring HubTran to integrate machine-learning capabilities for a fully integrated payments network for its customers.

The stimulus is providing a huge boost to Americans, who by and large, still remain unable to spend on big-ticket services like concerts, sporting events or amusement parks. The recent stimulus has created the strongest spending gains in furniture, online electronics and clothing.

This webinar featuring Vector will demonstrate how to create an open standard for eBOLs and contactless pickup and delivery.

If you look at the weekly Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) map, you might think freight markets have reversed course and are retreating significantly. But this line of thinking is misguided. Tender volumes are coming down, but off an unnaturally high base. Volumes in most major markets remain above pre-storm levels.

Lane Acuity Plus is a new addition to SONAR SCI, making it even more useful to shippers.

The freight markets have reentered “chaos is business as usual” territory. All the major indices have been eerily calm since the winter storm disruption. Yearly comps are becoming more difficult given the panic buying that shot volumes and rejections up this time last year. Don’t let the weakening comps distract you, this market can’t get much better.

“With Market Access, shippers gain risk transparency,” Uber Freight’s co-founder said. “In a market, not every shipper has the same needs. This tool puts the risk in the shippers’ hands so they can make decisions based on their companies’ specific needs.”

There are many variables converging that will keep upward pressure on spot rates and tender rejections for the coming weeks. Carriers will be able to squeeze extra cents per mile over the next couple of weeks. Assets will come back online sooner rather than later, but volumes are beginning to pick up both seasonally and due to a whipsaw effect from the storm.

High shipping costs are hitting transportation budgets hard.

The COO of ZUUM Transportation explained this expansion was a part of a continued effort to bring competitors and partners together to solve industry pain points.

The insights within this paper are curated by the market experts and backed by data from FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

We believe the winter storms tip the scales in carriers’ favor ever so slightly. Freight markets were already imbalanced with seemingly insatiable demand overwhelming already strained carriers, and it’s only February.

Without much volatility in volumes and rejections over the past three weeks, freight markets have seemingly found their groove. The tune is akin to Berlin techno. To some, its pace is smooth and machine like. To others, its pure chaos.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 65 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers) […]

Nominate industry-leading shippers for FreightWaves’ annual Shipper of Choice award.

We may be seeing signs of a traditional January lull, but at a much higher level than years past. On a rejection-adjusted basis, tender volumes are running up 23% yoy versus 20% last week. Tender rejections continue to decline modestly, but carriers are still rejecting more than 1-in-5 contracted tenders. Stimulus can only carry the freight markets so long. Fortunately, the industrial economy is revving up and retailers have significant restocking ahead.

The shipping business is tough. We could all use a tip, trick, and new set of tools to help us out. Here’s the 115 best websites, apps & FREE online resources every shipper needs to bookmark for 2021.

The Outbound Tender Reject Index has declined substantially since the beginning of the year. This shouldn’t be seen as a sign of a material capacity loosening, rather an effect of the ongoing rebid season pushing contract rates higher.

French company Shippeo, a supply chain visibility platform, has secured $32 million to continue product innovation and market expansion. The round, announced on Thursday, was co-led by Battery Ventures, along […]

Bed, Bath & Beyond reported EPS of less than half consensus estimates. CEO Mark Tritton pointed to tight shipping capacity and elevated freight costs for the miss. Get used to hearing this.

The stage is set for a historically strong Q1 for freight with a slow vaccine rollout keeping a lid on services spending, and consumers are flush with recent stimulus as well as the hopes for more to come. The freight bull market rages on to start 2021.

Convoy continued to introduce new innovations in 2020, helping it rank third in FreightWaves’ FreightTech 25 ranking of innovative companies in freight.

There is a strong pipeline of West Coast imports that should feed those markets well into Q1, but the retail portions will be less time-sensitive post-Christmas. The one factor that may be suppressing volumes in the holiday season is retailers’ decision to slow the velocity of their sales in the face of low inventory levels.

2020’s supply chain changes because of COVID will likely stick around in 2021, and could become permanent fixtures of the modern supply chain, XPO’s Drew Wilkerson said.

In the heat of peak holiday season, our thesis is largely the same: relatively tight capacity, strong volumes and positive cyclicality. The low inventory-to-sales ratio, strong consumer sentiment and spending, lack of service-based spending options and acceleration of e-commerce growth all bolster our belief.

One carrier says preparing for winter is “about training and accountability throughout the organization.”

Both truckload tenders and tender rejections rose this week. If spot rates are to continue the succinct but lagging dance with tender rejections, we should see spot rates inflate over the next two weeks. Also, with Thanksgiving just a week away, drivers will be seeking freight that drives them toward home, which typically pushes rejections and spot rates higher.

Convoy co-founder and CEO Dan Lewis sat down with FreightWaves to discuss the unusual freight market that has dominated 2020 and the future of Convoy.

Emerge has announced Book It Now, a feature that allows carriers to instantly book freight from its Digital Freight Marketplace without the hassles of negotiation.

From road closures to terminal shutdowns, shippers can stay ahead of the weather to minimize its impacts.

We expect strong holiday truckload and parcel demand
driven by a consumer spending portfolio that has been weighted heavily toward goods over services since the pandemic began. We believe that we are now in peak season and that shippers’ requests for trucking capacity will continue to rise.

The insights within this paper are curated by the market experts and backed by data from FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

FreightWaves CEO announces SONAR SCI at FW LIVE @Home. SCI stands for “supply chain intelligence.” Read how SONAR SCI can help your business.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 65 (Carriers) […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the Transportation Intermediaries Association says a broker transparency rule would address a marketplace that no longer exists. Plus, federal regulators could be looking to the industry to help develop autonomous truck rules, and shippers are demanding more power-only options.

Freight volumes and capacity remain historically strong for carriers even though OTVI and OTRI have fallen steadily throughout October.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, shippers want to know how a broker transparency rule would impact them. Plus, Schneider and Werner are among those reporting earnings and carriers weigh in on the election.

Shippers that trust their technology also trust their technology provider. That’s why XPO’s Connect platform resonates with shippers.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, shippers urge FMCSA to allow pausing of a driver’s 14-hour clock; the driver shortage is still the top industry concern; and UPS outperforms in Q3.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers) […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, a potential TRATON-Navistar tie-up moves closer to a conclusion, plus carriers still hold an upper hand in rate negotiations and early earnings results are not what people expected.

We have officially moved back into “broken record” territory that we have not seen since February. While volumes are flowing at record levels and capacity is as tight as it’s ever been, there is little volatility at the moment.

If you had told carriers they would see $3 a mile at any point during a global event like this, I believe many would have questioned your sanity. Yet, here we are with the Truckstop.com national spot rate average sitting at $2.93 per mile on Oct. 1.

Shippers ship. Carriers carry. Freight brokers are the experts connecting the two. A developed shipper-broker relationship is important in aiding the success of shippers, brokers and carriers.

Downloads of XPO’s driver app Drive XPO have doubled this year, and more than 25,000 carriers have joined its XPO Connect platform as both technologies have seen rapid growth.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 85 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 80 (Carriers) […]

Transflo and InMotion Global have reached a deal to offer the AscendTMS free for a limited time to Transflo customers.

Today’s fast-paced freight environment allows no time for back-office glitches. Shippers expect your brokerage to efficiently handle volumes of any size — a challenge only a proven automation solution can tackle.

We have gotten word that carriers are holding capacity until the end of the day before auctioning it to the highest bidder. Rates are nearing $3 per mile on a national level, and rates are already above that in 51 of 100 Truckstop.com lane pairings.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, several safety groups have sued FMCSA to stop upcoming changes to HOS rules. Plus, Convoy seeks to eliminate the request for proposal process, FreightWaves announces enhancements to SONAR and a Stanford dropout reimagines loading docks.

Convoy has rolled out a program aimed at helping shippers secure freight capacity along lanes without the need for an RFP or long-term contract.

Carriers are rejecting as much freight now than at any point in the past three years. Spot rates poised to break $3/mile on a national level.

Accepted freight tenders are running up 18% year-over-year. Carriers are rejecting 1 in 4 contracted tenders and driving rates up. National spot rates above $2.75/mi. and trending higher.

Spot rates out of LA and Dallas are remarkably high and the tight capacity in those markets is driving the freight cycle.

Buckle up, folks, this should be good. Volumes are gushing and rates pushing higher.

Carriers with exposure to essential retail are benefiting from increased freight demand as retailers of grocery, household and home improvement goods struggle to keep inventories on their shelves.

The carriers did not lose ground this week, but rather further solidified their dominant pricing position. Volumes remain well above 2018 and 2019, running in the +20% to 25% range. The elevated volumes are giving carriers options in the market and they are exercising those options at a high clip.

Many shippers have encountered fulfillment issues and transportation breakdowns as consumer demand for their products surged.

There is no change in the Pricing Power Index this week despite a continuation of the trends we’ve seen over the past few weeks: astounding volumes, carriers rejecting contracted freight at a high clip and rates continuing to trudge upward.

The combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning are allowing XPO’s brokerage operation to offer more visibility into pricing, capacity and tracking.

Carriers continue their power grab this week adding 10 points and hitting another new series high. Volumes remain in the stratosphere, and carriers are rejecting contracted freight at levels unseen since the summer of 2018.

Carriers are inteh strongest position in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index’s 10 month history. Rates have pushed higher in recent weeks as carriers reject more freight than anytime in 2019 and volumes remain elevated.

The Independence Day holiday disrupted both our OTVI and OTRI this week. Volumes are poised to bounce back and remain elevated after the moving average distortion is over.

During this webinar, shippers will learn how preparations for a range of risk scenarios can start with strong balance sheet liquidity—the number one issue in terms of the viability of their business—and their carriers’ business.

EKA Solutions has expanded its offerings with a new predictive visibility product that taps into ELDs and driver apps for a more accurate look at arrival times.

By artificially restricting capacity, carrier alliances have engineered rates higher and may book a profit this year.

The carriers continues their power grab this week. Shippers remain in control, but carriers are much better off than they were a few weeks ago. Capacity is beginning to tighten and rates are being pushed up.

The concept of shared truckload isn’t new, but technological advancements in the space make the method more viable than ever.

Carriers gained another 5 points of pricing power this week. This marks 6 weeks of power gains, but shippers remain in control.

Expanding its freight ecosystem, EKA Solutions has announced a TMS offering for small and medium-sized carriers.

The carriers gained pricing power this week on the back of surging volumes. Capacity remains loose although tightening each of the past five weeks.

The uncertainty that accompanies a disaster can shake a network to its core. There are ways to build a more resilient team.

American Shipper has partnered with Haven to develop a white paper that explores processes necessary for your organization to customize its workflow to capture the efficiency of the virtual supply chain.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 25 (Shippers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 20 (Shippers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 50 (Balanced) […]

In Episode 30, Andrew and Kevin reunite with an original host and creator of the show’s name, Seth Holm, to discuss the future of malls, brick-and-mortar and retail overall. Seth […]

This week the carriers gain some pricing power on the back of surging volumes. Tender rejections are beginning to show signs of life and spot rates are up in most markets.

The FreightWaves Quarterly Shipper Rate Report is crafted with contributions from US Bank, Recon Logistics and Blume Global.

As the battle for fair rates carries on, what if the solution is not government regulation, but rather the creation of a consortium that anonymizes rate data on a lane-by-lane basis for all to see?

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power index moved up for the first time since the volume surge in March. The index now sits at 15, which is still positions the shippers comfortably in bid negotiations.

The world of transportation has changed due to COVID-19. Read about how shipping professionals are adapting to those changes.

The current focus on the rate war distracts from the real issue at hand: how to build a profitable trucking business and control your own future.