Shippers

This webinar featuring Vector will demonstrate how to create an open standard for eBOLs and contactless pickup and delivery.

If you look at the weekly Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) map, you might think freight markets have reversed course and are retreating significantly. But this line of thinking is misguided. Tender volumes are coming down, but off an unnaturally high base. Volumes in most major markets remain above pre-storm levels.

Lane Acuity Plus is a new addition to SONAR SCI, making it even more useful to shippers.

The freight markets have reentered “chaos is business as usual” territory. All the major indices have been eerily calm since the winter storm disruption. Yearly comps are becoming more difficult given the panic buying that shot volumes and rejections up this time last year. Don’t let the weakening comps distract you, this market can’t get much better.

“With Market Access, shippers gain risk transparency,” Uber Freight’s co-founder said. “In a market, not every shipper has the same needs. This tool puts the risk in the shippers’ hands so they can make decisions based on their companies’ specific needs.”

There are many variables converging that will keep upward pressure on spot rates and tender rejections for the coming weeks. Carriers will be able to squeeze extra cents per mile over the next couple of weeks. Assets will come back online sooner rather than later, but volumes are beginning to pick up both seasonally and due to a whipsaw effect from the storm.

High shipping costs are hitting transportation budgets hard.

The COO of ZUUM Transportation explained this expansion was a part of a continued effort to bring competitors and partners together to solve industry pain points.

The insights within this paper are curated by the market experts and backed by data from FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

We believe the winter storms tip the scales in carriers’ favor ever so slightly. Freight markets were already imbalanced with seemingly insatiable demand overwhelming already strained carriers, and it’s only February.

Without much volatility in volumes and rejections over the past three weeks, freight markets have seemingly found their groove. The tune is akin to Berlin techno. To some, its pace is smooth and machine like. To others, its pure chaos.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 70 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 65 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers) […]

Nominate industry-leading shippers for FreightWaves’ annual Shipper of Choice award.

We may be seeing signs of a traditional January lull, but at a much higher level than years past. On a rejection-adjusted basis, tender volumes are running up 23% yoy versus 20% last week. Tender rejections continue to decline modestly, but carriers are still rejecting more than 1-in-5 contracted tenders. Stimulus can only carry the freight markets so long. Fortunately, the industrial economy is revving up and retailers have significant restocking ahead.

The shipping business is tough. We could all use a tip, trick, and new set of tools to help us out. Here’s the 115 best websites, apps & FREE online resources every shipper needs to bookmark for 2021.

The Outbound Tender Reject Index has declined substantially since the beginning of the year. This shouldn’t be seen as a sign of a material capacity loosening, rather an effect of the ongoing rebid season pushing contract rates higher.

French company Shippeo, a supply chain visibility platform, has secured $32 million to continue product innovation and market expansion. The round, announced on Thursday, was co-led by Battery Ventures, along […]

Bed, Bath & Beyond reported EPS of less than half consensus estimates. CEO Mark Tritton pointed to tight shipping capacity and elevated freight costs for the miss. Get used to hearing this.

The stage is set for a historically strong Q1 for freight with a slow vaccine rollout keeping a lid on services spending, and consumers are flush with recent stimulus as well as the hopes for more to come. The freight bull market rages on to start 2021.

Convoy continued to introduce new innovations in 2020, helping it rank third in FreightWaves’ FreightTech 25 ranking of innovative companies in freight.

There is a strong pipeline of West Coast imports that should feed those markets well into Q1, but the retail portions will be less time-sensitive post-Christmas. The one factor that may be suppressing volumes in the holiday season is retailers’ decision to slow the velocity of their sales in the face of low inventory levels.

2020’s supply chain changes because of COVID will likely stick around in 2021, and could become permanent fixtures of the modern supply chain, XPO’s Drew Wilkerson said.

In the heat of peak holiday season, our thesis is largely the same: relatively tight capacity, strong volumes and positive cyclicality. The low inventory-to-sales ratio, strong consumer sentiment and spending, lack of service-based spending options and acceleration of e-commerce growth all bolster our belief.

One carrier says preparing for winter is “about training and accountability throughout the organization.”

Both truckload tenders and tender rejections rose this week. If spot rates are to continue the succinct but lagging dance with tender rejections, we should see spot rates inflate over the next two weeks. Also, with Thanksgiving just a week away, drivers will be seeking freight that drives them toward home, which typically pushes rejections and spot rates higher.

Convoy co-founder and CEO Dan Lewis sat down with FreightWaves to discuss the unusual freight market that has dominated 2020 and the future of Convoy.

Emerge has announced Book It Now, a feature that allows carriers to instantly book freight from its Digital Freight Marketplace without the hassles of negotiation.

From road closures to terminal shutdowns, shippers can stay ahead of the weather to minimize its impacts.

We expect strong holiday truckload and parcel demand
driven by a consumer spending portfolio that has been weighted heavily toward goods over services since the pandemic began. We believe that we are now in peak season and that shippers’ requests for trucking capacity will continue to rise.

The insights within this paper are curated by the market experts and backed by data from FreightWaves’ SONAR platform.

FreightWaves CEO announces SONAR SCI at FW LIVE @Home. SCI stands for “supply chain intelligence.” Read how SONAR SCI can help your business.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 65 (Carriers) […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the Transportation Intermediaries Association says a broker transparency rule would address a marketplace that no longer exists. Plus, federal regulators could be looking to the industry to help develop autonomous truck rules, and shippers are demanding more power-only options.

Freight volumes and capacity remain historically strong for carriers even though OTVI and OTRI have fallen steadily throughout October.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, shippers want to know how a broker transparency rule would impact them. Plus, Schneider and Werner are among those reporting earnings and carriers weigh in on the election.

Shippers that trust their technology also trust their technology provider. That’s why XPO’s Connect platform resonates with shippers.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, shippers urge FMCSA to allow pausing of a driver’s 14-hour clock; the driver shortage is still the top industry concern; and UPS outperforms in Q3.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 75 (Carriers) […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, a potential TRATON-Navistar tie-up moves closer to a conclusion, plus carriers still hold an upper hand in rate negotiations and early earnings results are not what people expected.

We have officially moved back into “broken record” territory that we have not seen since February. While volumes are flowing at record levels and capacity is as tight as it’s ever been, there is little volatility at the moment.

If you had told carriers they would see $3 a mile at any point during a global event like this, I believe many would have questioned your sanity. Yet, here we are with the Truckstop.com national spot rate average sitting at $2.93 per mile on Oct. 1.

Shippers ship. Carriers carry. Freight brokers are the experts connecting the two. A developed shipper-broker relationship is important in aiding the success of shippers, brokers and carriers.

Downloads of XPO’s driver app Drive XPO have doubled this year, and more than 25,000 carriers have joined its XPO Connect platform as both technologies have seen rapid growth.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 85 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 80 (Carriers) […]

Transflo and InMotion Global have reached a deal to offer the AscendTMS free for a limited time to Transflo customers.

Today’s fast-paced freight environment allows no time for back-office glitches. Shippers expect your brokerage to efficiently handle volumes of any size — a challenge only a proven automation solution can tackle.

We have gotten word that carriers are holding capacity until the end of the day before auctioning it to the highest bidder. Rates are nearing $3 per mile on a national level, and rates are already above that in 51 of 100 Truckstop.com lane pairings.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, several safety groups have sued FMCSA to stop upcoming changes to HOS rules. Plus, Convoy seeks to eliminate the request for proposal process, FreightWaves announces enhancements to SONAR and a Stanford dropout reimagines loading docks.

Convoy has rolled out a program aimed at helping shippers secure freight capacity along lanes without the need for an RFP or long-term contract.

Carriers are rejecting as much freight now than at any point in the past three years. Spot rates poised to break $3/mile on a national level.

Accepted freight tenders are running up 18% year-over-year. Carriers are rejecting 1 in 4 contracted tenders and driving rates up. National spot rates above $2.75/mi. and trending higher.

Spot rates out of LA and Dallas are remarkably high and the tight capacity in those markets is driving the freight cycle.

Buckle up, folks, this should be good. Volumes are gushing and rates pushing higher.

Carriers with exposure to essential retail are benefiting from increased freight demand as retailers of grocery, household and home improvement goods struggle to keep inventories on their shelves.

The carriers did not lose ground this week, but rather further solidified their dominant pricing position. Volumes remain well above 2018 and 2019, running in the +20% to 25% range. The elevated volumes are giving carriers options in the market and they are exercising those options at a high clip.

Many shippers have encountered fulfillment issues and transportation breakdowns as consumer demand for their products surged.

There is no change in the Pricing Power Index this week despite a continuation of the trends we’ve seen over the past few weeks: astounding volumes, carriers rejecting contracted freight at a high clip and rates continuing to trudge upward.

The combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning are allowing XPO’s brokerage operation to offer more visibility into pricing, capacity and tracking.

Carriers continue their power grab this week adding 10 points and hitting another new series high. Volumes remain in the stratosphere, and carriers are rejecting contracted freight at levels unseen since the summer of 2018.

Carriers are inteh strongest position in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index’s 10 month history. Rates have pushed higher in recent weeks as carriers reject more freight than anytime in 2019 and volumes remain elevated.

The Independence Day holiday disrupted both our OTVI and OTRI this week. Volumes are poised to bounce back and remain elevated after the moving average distortion is over.

During this webinar, shippers will learn how preparations for a range of risk scenarios can start with strong balance sheet liquidity—the number one issue in terms of the viability of their business—and their carriers’ business.

EKA Solutions has expanded its offerings with a new predictive visibility product that taps into ELDs and driver apps for a more accurate look at arrival times.

By artificially restricting capacity, carrier alliances have engineered rates higher and may book a profit this year.

The carriers continues their power grab this week. Shippers remain in control, but carriers are much better off than they were a few weeks ago. Capacity is beginning to tighten and rates are being pushed up.

The concept of shared truckload isn’t new, but technological advancements in the space make the method more viable than ever.

Carriers gained another 5 points of pricing power this week. This marks 6 weeks of power gains, but shippers remain in control.

Expanding its freight ecosystem, EKA Solutions has announced a TMS offering for small and medium-sized carriers.

The carriers gained pricing power this week on the back of surging volumes. Capacity remains loose although tightening each of the past five weeks.

The uncertainty that accompanies a disaster can shake a network to its core. There are ways to build a more resilient team.

American Shipper has partnered with Haven to develop a white paper that explores processes necessary for your organization to customize its workflow to capture the efficiency of the virtual supply chain.

This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 25 (Shippers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 20 (Shippers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 50 (Balanced) […]

In Episode 30, Andrew and Kevin reunite with an original host and creator of the show’s name, Seth Holm, to discuss the future of malls, brick-and-mortar and retail overall. Seth […]

This week the carriers gain some pricing power on the back of surging volumes. Tender rejections are beginning to show signs of life and spot rates are up in most markets.

The FreightWaves Quarterly Shipper Rate Report is crafted with contributions from US Bank, Recon Logistics and Blume Global.

As the battle for fair rates carries on, what if the solution is not government regulation, but rather the creation of a consortium that anonymizes rate data on a lane-by-lane basis for all to see?

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power index moved up for the first time since the volume surge in March. The index now sits at 15, which is still positions the shippers comfortably in bid negotiations.

The world of transportation has changed due to COVID-19. Read about how shipping professionals are adapting to those changes.

The current focus on the rate war distracts from the real issue at hand: how to build a profitable trucking business and control your own future.

National volumes and tender rejections have been roughly flat for the past week. There is no change in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index this week. Shippers remain in dominant pricing power position.

Driver amenities pay off for Shipper of Choice Facilities winners

Amazon has expanded its brokerage service to 48 states, allowing shippers to easily connect with carriers on a digital platform.

Shippers and forwarders will be cautious with how much cargo they commit to the ocean container carriers this contract season, industry experts say.

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index fell another 5 points this week to its lowest total in series history. Volumes are beginning to come back to life, but capacity remains historically loose and spot rates are extremely low.

“Transplace’s customers expect us to dig in and do the research that matters most to their business, and we deliver,” said Transplace Vice President of International Services Mollie Bailey.

The shippers are in the strongest pricing power position in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index history, but for all the wrong reasons. Volumes are stable, but well below normal levels, and tender rejections are at the lowest level in the index’s 3-year history.

Many shippers believe a TMS will streamline their operations and lead to greater profit. It is just one piece of the puzzle, though, that also includes freight auditing, benchmarking, and procurement strategies.

Pricing power shifts towards the shippers in a major way this week. Contract freight volumes are now at Labor Day 2019 levels and are poised to go lower. Rejection rates are encroaching on a rare 4% mark, and spot rates are in the bin.

Knowing exactly where shipments are and when they will arrive is more important now than ever.

While mobile devices are common in many industries, the use of these devices to manage inventory is still limited.

Carriers give back pricing power as volumes and rejections rates plummet. Spot rates are negative week-over-week for 95% of lanes from Truckstop.com.

Morgan Stanley survey shows coronavirus disruption is accelerating for carriers, shippers and brokers, but the height of the disruption may be closer than some may think.

National freight volumes and tender rejections are falling as fast as they rose. Carriers remain in slight pricing power position, but their footing is slipping with each passing week,

On EP22, Kevin and Andrew discuss the inevitable accounts receivable risk incoming in the transportation industry with Peter Rentschler from CarrierDirect. Andrew introduces a new segment and expectations are set […]

While this may be the peak pricing power for the carriers for this freight cycle, the carriers gain another 10 points in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index this week.

Uber Freight has taken several steps to address industry needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including offering truck drivers a $20 weekly food credit and cutting shipper costs with zero-profit relief loads.

The continuation of panic buying and restocking has swung the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index violently to the upside. Carriers are now in dominant pricing power position for the first time since we began this series in September.

CDL 1000 aims to revolutionize street turns by automating the process, cutting out inefficiencies and improving speed.

American consumers are panic buying goods from every aisle. To meet this spike in demand, shippers must procure trucking capacity at higher-than-contracted rates creating a significant 15 point swing to the carriers.