Handling freight markets at maximum capacity- On The Spot (with video)

On The Spot 11/13/2020

Zach Strickland and JP Hampstead discuss how the capacity maximums are affecting shippers, carriers and everyone in between.

After a week full of announcements from the election to COVID-19 vaccines, what is the current state of the freight market?


https://vimeo.com/478960722

Strickland asked Hampstead how capacity is different this year than in years past. 

Hampstead said capacity is very much more constrained than usual, but he thinks that the ceiling has already been hit for tender rejection rates. 

However, both believe that the markets are at an earlier point in the capacity cycle than they were in 2018, which makes a difference in how the rest of the year will go. 

Hampstead said a lot of the turnover has to do with driver turnover in smaller fleets and that larger fleets haven’t necessarily seen a good ability to fill their trucks with drivers. 

Some shippers are upping their orders despite a continued driver shortage, as long as they are able to manage the capacity they’re holding. 

Hampstead pointed to the partnership with Reliance Partners as a key source of data FreightWaves uses to understand how capacity is moving. 

Looking forward, Hampstead said some of the larger shippers may try to control costs but that the carriers are subject to the driver market. 

Hampstead predicted tender rejection rates will not increase, but Strickland thinks they will. 

As peak freight season approaches, stick with On The Spot for weekly updates on the current market state.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
AI

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post • Chicago, IL
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
AI Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • The Old Post • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post • Chicago, IL Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Kaylee Nix

Kaylee Nix is a meteorologist and reporter for FreightWaves. She joined the company in November of 2020 after spending two years as a broadcast meteorologist for a local television channel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Kaylee graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2018 and immediately made the Tennessee Valley her home. Kaylee creates written summaries of FreightWaves live podcasts and cultivates the social media for FreightWaves TV.