SONAR launches new routing guide and contract rate data, plus expanded SearchCarriers monitoring

Each dataset updates daily using a 7-day rolling average and is available now in SONAR.

Routing Guide Premium (RGP2.USA, RGP3.USA)

Routing Guide Premium measures the median percentage increase or decrease in all-in transportation costs — base rate, fuel and accessorial charges — that a shipper pays its provider on a later tender compared with the initial tender.

• RGP2.USA: premium paid when a load is accepted on the second tender vs. the first
• RGP3.USA: premium paid when a load is accepted on the third tender vs. the first
• Why it matters: it puts a dollar-based percentage on routing guide failure, so shippers can see the true cost of freight slipping past their primary provider

As of Oct. 20, 2026, loads accepted on the second tender cost shippers a median 22.02% more all-in than first-tender loads. Third-tender loads cost 26.44% more. Both premiums spiked above 30% around the December holidays, early February and late June into July.

Routing Guide Premium (RGP2.USA, RGP3.USA) and Contract Rate Change Direction (CRCD.USA), Oct. 2025–Oct. 2026. Source: SONAR.

Routing Guide Acceptance Share (RGAS1.USA, RGAS2.USA, RGAS3.USA)

Routing Guide Acceptance Share measures the percentage of accepted loads at each tender position, from the first tender through the fifth and beyond.

• RGAS1.USA: share of loads accepted on the first tender
• RGAS2.USA / RGAS3.USA: share accepted on the second and third tenders
• Why it matters: it shows how efficiently routing guides are performing and how often freight falls to backup providers — where the premiums above apply

As of Oct. 20, 2026, 89.05% of accepted loads were accepted on the first tender, below the 12-month average of 91.60%. Second-tender acceptances made up 6.84% and third-tender 4.11%.

Routing Guide Acceptance Share by tender position (RGAS1.USA, RGAS2.USA, RGAS3.USA). Source: SONAR.

Contract Rate Change Direction (CRCD.USA)

Contract Rate Change Direction measures the average percentage change between new and previous contract base rates that shippers pay providers. It only counts changes where the prior contract rate was stable for more than 90 days, filtering out short-term noise.

• Positive values: new contract rates are resetting higher than the rates they replace
• Why it matters: it helps shippers, brokers and carriers spot contract pricing trends and potential bid timing pressure

As of Oct. 20, 2026, CRCD.USA stood at 12.58%, meaning new contract base rates averaged about 12.6% above the rates they replaced. That is well above the 12-month average of 8.34%, and the index has climbed steadily since late 2025 (see chart above).

How the three datasets work together

Combined, they show both how often a routing guide breaks and what it costs when it does — the core inputs for deciding when to rebid.

SearchCarriers: expanded carrier monitoring and qualification tools

SearchCarriers now does more than a one-time carrier check. New monitoring and search tools let brokers and shippers keep watching a carrier after onboarding and pull safety and equipment details in seconds.

Carrier watchlists

• Add carriers to a personal Company Watches list by company name or USDOT number
• Track up to 200 carriers per user, or add many at once with Bulk Import
• Choose what to monitor for each carrier: inspections, contact info, reported trucks, reported trailers, reported drivers, MCS-150 overdue status, for-sale monitoring and out-of-service orders — or select All updates

SearchCarriers Company Watches: monitor carriers by USDOT number and pick the changes that trigger alerts. Source: SONAR SearchCarriers.

Email notifications

• Get an email when a watched carrier changes, based on the alert types you selected
• Add and verify a notification email in settings to turn alerts on
• Why it matters: changes such as a new out-of-service order, updated contact details or an overdue MCS-150 can signal risk or possible fraud — and now reach your inbox instead of waiting for the next manual check

Inspection search

• Search for a specific carrier inspection to pull up its details quickly
• Supports faster safety and compliance reviews during qualification and audits

Equipment lookup by VIN or license plate

• Search by VIN or license plate to see available information on a truck or trailer
• Helps confirm that the equipment showing up at the dock matches the carrier you booked

What this means for carrier qualification

Carrier qualification no longer ends at onboarding. With watchlists, alerts, inspection search and equipment lookup, teams can:

• Monitor continuously rather than re-vetting carriers by hand
• Catch red flags earlier, such as out-of-service orders or contact changes
• Verify equipment against the carrier of record before freight is loaded
• Reach safety and compliance data faster during audits and claims

Frequently asked questions

What is a routing guide premium? A routing guide premium is the extra all-in cost a shipper pays its broker or carrier when a load is accepted on a backup tender instead of the first tender. SONAR’s RGP2.USA and RGP3.USA measure the median premium for second- and third-tender loads, including base rate, fuel and accessorials.

Do the new SONAR datasets show carrier costs or shipper costs? They show shipper-to-provider costs: the rates shippers pay brokers and carriers. They do not measure carrier operating costs or broker margins.

What is routing guide acceptance share? Routing guide acceptance share is the percentage of accepted loads at each tender position. SONAR’s RGAS1.USA tracks the first tender, with RGAS2.USA and RGAS3.USA tracking the second and third tenders.

How does SONAR measure contract rate changes? CRCD.USA measures the average percentage change between new and previous contract base rates. It only counts changes where the prior contract rate was stable for more than 90 days.

How often do the new datasets update? All three dataset groups update daily using a 7-day rolling average.

How does SearchCarriers help with carrier qualification? SearchCarriers lets users watch up to 200 carriers, get email alerts on changes like out-of-service orders or overdue MCS-150 filings, search specific inspections, and look up equipment by VIN or license plate.

See the new data in SONAR

Routing Guide Premium, Routing Guide Acceptance Share and Contract Rate Change Direction are live in SONAR today, alongside the expanded SearchCarriers tools.

Request a SONAR demo to see what your freight costs when it moves past the first tender.