Economics

FreightWaves Staff Friday, November 10, 2017

Rise of spot rates shifts pricing power to carriers and away from brokers

For the first time since DAT began reporting its data in the current format, the monthly spot rate has exceeded the contract rate at the same time in all three modes.  And the latest DAT Trucking Freight Barometers are continuing to signal that the ‘fall surge’ is happening for the first time since 2007.  Now is a good time to have secured capacity and a bad time to be locked into contract rates.

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Brian Straight Monday, November 6, 2017

Trailer data is influencing fleet operational decisions

In the early days of trailer tracking, companies were simply looking for missing trailers. But technology has advanced, and trailer tracking is trying to keep pace. Now, the data generated by trailers can rival that of tractors, and properly managing that data could generate more revenue potential for carriers than ever before.

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FreightWaves Staff Thursday, November 2, 2017

Believing in the wisdom of the crowd

The more individuals participating in a marketplace, and the more money that is being transacted in that marketplace, the more predictive that marketplace becomes. That’s why trucking remains one of the best indicators of economic activity. Here is what the weekly DAT Barometers for dry van, reefer, and flatbed are saying.

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