How supply chain leaders can be the CFO’s hero
Cut costs, then help finance set new budgets Freight rates in all modes have come down hard since last year, and if you’re a transportation manager or supply chain leader, you probably feel confident about hitting your budget this year. You might be tempted to take the downcycle off, put strategic initiatives on the backburner […]
Predicting the next turn in the freight cycle
Freight markets feel stuck in unseasonable doldrums with volumes low, capacity loose and rates in a trough after supply chain activity cooled post-COVID. But as we know, the relationship of supply and demand is not static, but dynamic and ever-shifting. A pendulum moves slowest and briefly pauses just before it starts falling in the other […]
How long does it take the freight market to flip?
Not long at all. During the last freight cycle, there was a 56-day period when truckload spot rates increased by 25.6% and a 59-day period when rates fell by 15.1%. Right now, transportation rates are unseasonably low and capacity is plentiful across most modes of traffic, from North America truckload to trans-Pacific ocean container shipping. […]
Why automated truckload freight quotes are more accurate
When it comes to establishing truckload freight quotes for customers, it is essential to use automation to get the most accurate results and offer the most competitive freight rates. Transportation networks rely on timely rate estimates that are competitive while also being profitable. Creating quotes the old-fashioned way opens supply chains to several problems that […]
How quickly the market turns
Earnings season is upon us and executives of publicly traded transportation companies are providing their results from the first quarter. They are also providing updates on current market conditions and what they see ahead. The first major player to report earnings was J.B. Hunt, the largest domestic intermodal player in the industry. As expected, earnings […]
Why do carriers expect pricing momentum to continue into 2022?
Earnings season is here and the general theme across truckload carriers is carrying higher rate momentum into 2022. Carriers have benefited from increased freight rates across the board, but not every carrier experienced record revenue in the fourth quarter. Market conditions are still quite favorable for carriers, but driver retention and recruiting continue to be […]
Tough sledding ahead for 2022 bid season
Shippers are facing a tough road in 2022. A relief valve to remove all the pressure on transportation networks isn’t coming, at least in the near future as capacity constraints are seemingly endless. The semiconductor shortage, a tight labor market, increased consumer spending and congestion at the ports are all constraints that haven’t improved over […]
What is expected during peak season?
All three major modes of transportation – maritime, intermodal and truckload – all have very different peak season timelines. The maritime sector has been operating at peak season-like levels for much of the past year. Traditional maritime peak season has passed, with goods needed for the holiday season already stateside. Traditionally, intermodal volumes peak in […]
Building a bridge between ocean and domestic transportation markets
Understanding ocean shipping trends is vital to understanding the freight flows in domestic transportation markets. The easiest identifier is linking rises (and falls) in import volumes that are clearing U.S. Customs in port markets with increases (and decreases) in both truckload and intermodal volumes in the markets. The free white paper, Ocean markets drive the […]
How Much Truckload Volume Comes From Ocean Imports (video)
Kyle Taylor and Luke Falasca, the co-hosts of #WithSONAR, are joined by Henry Byers, FreightWaves Maritime Market Expert. They discuss the amount of truckload volume that comes from ocean imports. They also cover why the current bull market in freight may continue to see elevated levels through the end of 2020. The American Shipper/FreightWaves Global […]
