Latest news with #shippers
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Regional disparity grows as truckload capacity tightens
Chart of the Week: Regional Rejection Indexes – Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, West Coast, Southwest SONAR: Truckload tender rejection rates have diverged significantly over the past year, reflecting growing regional imbalances in the U.S. trucking market. In the Southeast, rejection rates have averaged close to 10% over the past two months, while West Coast rates have remained around 3.5%. This widening gap signals increasing network and pricing inefficiencies and suggests that the truckload market is less stable than it appears on the surface. At this time last year, the gap between the two regions was much narrower: the Southeast averaged around 6%, while the West Coast sat only slightly lower at 5.3%. They're not alone—other regions have also drifted apart. During the winter, the Midwest saw the most disruption, with rejection rates exceeding 12% for the first time in two years, while the West Coast remained under 8%. For context, rejection rates above 10% are typically problematic for shippers, often triggering rapid rate inflation. These spikes are usually associated with holiday periods like Christmas and the Fourth of July. The increasing dispersion in regional rejection rates points to a less balanced freight environment. Carrier networks constantly struggle to keep trucks moving toward areas where equipment is needed. When demand shifts—as it has over the past year—networks are slow to recalibrate. Not so oversupplied Following the pandemic, truckload capacity was so abundant that regional imbalances were largely absorbed. Trucks were readily available, often waiting on the sidelines. That's no longer the case. Since late 2022, the market has been shedding capacity. According to FMCSA data, more than 48,000 registered operators have exited the market. Net revocations have accelerated since last October, now averaging nearly 200 more per week year-over-year. Still, the increase in total rejection rates has remained modest—hovering around 6% in recent months—insufficient to spark a significant capacity crunch or a market 'flip.' Rates are also driving regional inequity One contributor to the growing disparity in rejection rates is the diverging trend in contract rates, particularly out of eastern markets. According to SONAR's invoice data, the average contract rate per mile from Los Angeles to Chicago has risen about 3% over the past two years. In contrast, the rate from Atlanta to Chicago has declined nearly 7%. While these are just two lanes among many, they illustrate a broader trend: outbound Southern California rates have shown more upward pressure than those in the East. Length of haul also plays a role. Freight originating in Atlanta averages about 500 miles, while Los Angeles loads average more than 800 miles. This difference incentivizes carriers to prioritize longer West Coast hauls. Rejection rates out of Atlanta — the Southeast's largest market — have spiked in recent months. Although this hasn't yet driven up contract rates, it has had a strong effect on the spot market. Spot rates in the Atlanta-to-Chicago lane are up 41% since mid-April. If sustained, this could eventually lead to higher contract rates. In the meantime, it highlights how fragile the spot market environment is. The Bottom Line The freight market remains relatively soft, with little upward movement in long-term contract rates. But under the surface, conditions are shifting. The fact that spot rates have surged more than 40% in a well-traveled lane — even in a down market — demonstrates just how vulnerable the truckload environment has become. About the Chart of the Week The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on for future reference. SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time. The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience. To request a SONAR demo, click here. The post Regional disparity grows as truckload capacity tightens appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
SONAR adds intermodal savings rates
Building upon SONAR intermodal and dry van contract rate data already available in the platform, as of today, intermodal savings rates are now included in SONAR, as a national average, for 63 individual lanes, and two indices. The LA to Dallas lane is competitive between truckload and intermodal with a 9% average intermodal savings rate. That's below the national average of 23%. (Chart: SONAR) The intermodal savings rate is the percent savings that a shipper can expect to realize by using domestic rail intermodal rather than truckload. It is the calculated percent difference between rates that include fuel surcharges for both modes. The inclusivity of fuel surcharges is important because the greater fuel efficiency of intermodal is a significant component of the overall savings versus truckload. The new dataset primarily targets shippers that move freight in dense corridors and/or longer haul lanes where rail intermodal could potentially be a viable option over truckload. The 63 lanes chosen for the index are those with sufficient intermodal density to make intermodal a viable option for most shippers that can tolerate 'truckload plus a day' service levels. The individual lanes were also selected on the basis of those where sufficient intermodal rate data is available. The Transcontinental Index displays the average intermodal savings of five dense intermodal lanes outbound from Los Angeles. The objective is to give importers a quick read on changes in rates to move goods to consumption centers after they are transloaded from international containers into 53' domestic containers. Meanwhile, the Local East Index displays the average savings of nine lanes in the eastern one-third of the US. That grouping of lanes is intended to represent those that are highly competitive with dry van, and therefore, more influenced by truckload market conditions. Truckload contracts are often repriced more frequently than intermodal contracts, so a tightening in market conditions could cause the savings rate to rise, at least temporarily, all else being equal. For additional detail, see the Intermodal Savings Index Knowledge Center Article. The post SONAR adds intermodal savings rates appeared first on FreightWaves. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
June produces mixed freight trends, recovery remains ‘elusive'
Freight volumes remained pressured in June, but expenditures stepped higher again on a year-over-year comparison. Uncertainty around trade policy continues to cloud shippers' decision making, extending an already prolonged freight downturn, according to a Monday report from Cass Information Systems. Freight shipments captured by the multimodal index fell 2.4% y/y during the month and were off 0.2% from May (with and without a seasonal adjustment). June marked 29 straight months of y/y declines for the dataset. The y/y decline in June was the smallest in seven months. On a two-year-stacked comparison, volumes were down 8.3%. June 2025y/y2-yearm/mm/m (SA)ShipmentsExpendituresTL Linehaul Index Cass' outlook calls for a 5% y/y decline in shipments during July, but noted a recent rise in imports could produce better-than-normal seasonal trends in the month. The report warned that inventory buildup by shippers to get ahead of tariffs will eventually lead to a destocking period, and that 'the effects of tariffs may worsen, as higher goods prices reduce affordability and real incomes.' 'With this outlook, the cycle upturn for the transportation industry remains elusive.' Conversely, Cass' freight expenditures dataset, which measures total freight spend including fuel, increased 2.6% y/y, a third consecutive y/y increase. The index was off 1.2% from May, 2.9% lower when seasonally adjusted. Netting the decline in shipments from the increase in expenditures shows actual freight rates were 5.2% higher y/y during the month. A higher percentage of truckload shipments with a lower mix of less-than-truckload moves drove the change to the inferred rate index. While a mix shift toward TL can be a positive indicator for the freight cycle, the report cautioned it is 'more likely a head-fake related to pre-tariff shipping.' Cass' TL linehaul index, which tracks rates excluding fuel and accessorial surcharges, increased 1.9% y/y, up 0.4% from May. June marked the sixth consecutive y/y increase in linehaul rates. The dataset is forecast to increase slightly this year after 10% and 3.4% declines in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Data used in the indexes comes from freight bills paid by Cass (NASDAQ: CASS), a provider of payment management solutions. Cass processes $36 billion in freight payables annually on behalf of customers. More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden: Carrier Logistics automates LTL shipment data entry ArcBest touts results from EV semi pilot Yellow Corp. selling 4 terminals for $4M The post June produces mixed freight trends, recovery remains 'elusive' appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Building a Load Review Checklist That Prevents Mistakes
If you're running loads without a formal review process in place, you're running blind. Every missed appointment, every unpaid detention, every 'I thought we agreed on that' moment — it all comes back to one thing: a lack of structure. And in this industry, mistakes don't just cost time — they cost money, relationships, and your reputation. Too many carriers are quick to blame brokers, drivers, or shippers when things go sideways. But if you don't have a checklist in place to review every load before it moves, the fault starts in your own house. This ain't about playing defense — this is about taking control of your process, your operation, and ultimately your profit. So let's break it down. I'm going to walk you step-by-step through how to build a load review checklist that keeps mistakes out of your operation and ensures every load runs clean, tight, and profitable. Trucking moves fast. But when you move fast without checking the details, you leave money on the table — or worse, you create fires your team has to put out later. Here's what usually goes wrong when you skip a proper load review: Rate confirmation errors Wrong pickup or delivery times Missed accessorials like detention or layover Incorrect equipment assigned Incomplete driver instructions Routing issues that cause late arrivals No backup contacts if something goes wrong Now multiply that by 5, 10, or 15 loads a week — and you're not just dealing with headaches. You're bleeding out in your back office. A proper checklist catches all of this upfront. It slows you down just enough to speed everything else up. Your load review process doesn't start after the load is dispatched. It starts right when the load gets booked — before you send it to dispatch, before the driver ever sees it. This means your checklist lives inside your load intake workflow, not as an afterthought. Whether you use a TMS, spreadsheet, or just a paper file, every load should go through the same checklist before it's marked 'ready.' If you've got a team, train them to use the checklist the same way, every time. If you're solo, train yourself to stop cutting corners. Structure isn't a luxury — it's survival. Here's what needs to be on every single load review checklist — no exceptions: Load Information Load number, PO, or reference ID Pickup address and ZIP code Delivery address and ZIP code Appointment times (verify AM vs PM) Time zone confirmations for long-haul loads Commodity description and weight Hazmat or special handling flags Temperature requirements (reefer-specific) Rate and Terms Agreed rate (linehaul + fuel) Accessorials: detention, layover, TONU, etc. Reimbursement agreements (lumper, tolls, etc.) Payment terms and method (quick pay, factoring, etc.) Is the rate confirmation signed and stored Broker or Shipper Contact Info Primary contact name and number After-hours contact info Email for document submission Any carrier packet or insurance compliance notes Equipment Check Equipment type required (van, reefer, flatbed) Is your equipment compliant (straps, load bars, reefer temp range) Does the driver assigned match load requirements (e.g., hazmat cert) Driver & Dispatch Readiness Has the driver received a full brief on the load Has the dispatcher confirmed route and delivery timing Are special instructions communicated clearly (e.g., FCFS, check call frequency) Is the BOL format known and understood (some shippers require specific forms) Risk & Red Flag Review Are there previous issues with this broker or shipper Is the load origin/destination known for delays or strict receivers Are there any weather alerts, road closures, or traffic impacts expected This is the difference between 'I thought we covered that' and 'We checked it — it was covered.' Now that you know what goes on the checklist, let's talk format. Your checklist should live in one of three places: Inside your TMS (if your system supports custom fields) A shareable Google Form or spreadsheet A printed form kept in a load binder or clipboard What matters isn't where it lives — it's that it's used consistently. Pro tip: Add a final 'Verified By' field at the bottom with a name and timestamp. If you have a team, this builds accountability. If you're solo, it builds discipline. You'd be surprised how many mistakes you catch when you know you have to sign off on your own process. The best checklist in the world is useless if it doesn't translate into clean communication with your driver. Once a load is reviewed and cleared, create a driver-ready version of the details. This could be a PDF dispatch sheet, an in-app dispatch (if you use TMS), or a text/email summary that's easy to reference. Here's what your driver should have on hand: Pickup and delivery addresses with contact numbers Appointment windows Commodity details and any special instructions Deadhead miles and routing notes Instructions for paperwork, PODs, and check calls Your checklist should make sure the driver doesn't have to guess. That's how you cut down on phone tag, missed updates, and 'I didn't know' moments. Even checklists need to evolve. Once a month, sit down and audit your own process. Look back at loads that had issues and ask: Was the issue something the checklist should have caught Was the checklist used and completed Do we need to add a field or question Are there brokers or shippers we need to flag based on patterns This is how you keep the system sharp. Checklists aren't one-and-done. They're living tools that help your business adapt and improve. Let me paint the picture. A load offer comes in. Your dispatcher enters the details, and the checklist gets pulled up immediately. Each field is verified — addresses double-checked, rates confirmed, driver assigned based on equipment, and all contacts logged. The rate con gets reviewed, signed, and attached. The driver receives a formatted dispatch sheet with every detail clear as day. The load runs smoothly. No calls. No confusion. No back-and-forth. That's not luck. That's the process. That's what allows you to scale without falling apart. Too many carriers are running loads on hope and memory. Hope that the dispatcher caught everything. I hope that the rate was right. I hope that the driver doesn't forget the appointment time. Hope is not a strategy. If you want to build a real business — one that's lean, profitable, and built to last — you need structure. A load review checklist isn't optional. It's how you protect your time, your team, and your bottom line. One mistake on one load might feel small. But a missed accessorial here, a miscommunication there — those little cracks add up. And if you don't tighten your process, they'll sink you before you ever hit your stride. So build the checklist. Use it every time. And run your operation like a carrier who plans to win. Let's get to work. The post Building a Load Review Checklist That Prevents Mistakes appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
07-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
East Coast Gasoline Stockpiles Swell as Key Pipeline Adds Volume
The operator of the largest US fuel pipeline system has raised shipments on a key gasoline line, increasing supplies for East Coast drivers in the peak summer travel season. Colonial Pipeline Co.'s Line 1, which primarily transports gasoline, boosted capacity 5% to 7% above typical summer volumes, according to a notice to shippers seen by Bloomberg. Colonial expects the increase to last through the shipping cycle that starts in late August. The company confirmed the notice.
