FreightWaves SONAR adds Lane Signal app

Lane Signal

FreightWaves SONAR now provides analytics down to the lane level. SONAR subscribers can see and use data on a freight lane at the granular level. FreightWaves launched SONAR two years ago – the first platform to provide real-time market data based on tendered transactions. Tenders are electronically transmitted load requests from shippers to carriers. For […]

Why destination matters for freight rates

While origin matters for transportation rate forecasting, the destination is often times more important. The transportation rates for a backhaul destination are naturally higher than transportation rates for a headhaul market. This holds for all freight moved by truck, rail/intermodal, ocean or air.

How to develop freight forecasts using SONAR

Forecasting trucking rates is one of the most important roles for all freight forecasters. Load volumes and truck capacity for individual markets are the primary drivers in developing freight forecasts. Each individual freight market has its own unique load demand and truck capacity cycles. These cycles are most often linked to seasonal demand patterns and the ratio of outbound to inbound freight volumes in each market.


How is freight priced? A dive into freight rates by mode of transit

Barge around the Tennessee River Gorge

Understanding freight cost per unit across different transportation modes is a key to determining what mode is the most cost-effective and timely to ship goods from point A to point B. With this information, a freight forecaster can then develop competitive requests for quotes (RFQ) and requests for pricing (RFP).  Full-truckload is priced on a […]

Good news: The freight market is about to turn up

Freight market forecasting is a tricky game these days. Historical freight market data models provide good reference points, but because of the unprecedented nature of COVID-19 (a classic example of a black swan event), we have to rely on current data to understand what is taking place in the freight market. The good news is […]

Why historical spot rates alone are not the best predictor of future spot rates

Truck with rainbow

History tends to repeat itself, or does it? A common thought in the trucking industry is that looking at historical spot rates are good indicators of what to expect each year. It is true to an extent that historical trends do well to predict certain aspects of future spot rates, such as seasonal movement, but […]

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Take Demand Planning and Forecasting to the Next Level: An Introduction to Tender Data