spot rates

Historically, November is the month in which maritime imports begin to move inland for their final push before the holiday shopping season. Yet such imports were lost at sea this year, failing to materialize during ocean shippers’ peak season. This one-two punch of weakened import volumes and overstocked retail inventories means that carriers are left with fewer opportunities to source freight.

Ocean carriers have been shielded by lucrative annual contracts with cargo shippers, but contract coverage is starting to crumble.

Historically, November is the month in which maritime imports begin to move inland for their final push before the holiday shopping season. Yet such imports were lost at sea this year, failing to materialize during ocean shippers’ peak season. This one-two punch of weakened import volumes and overstocked retail inventories means that carriers are left with fewer opportunities to source freight.

A recent FreightWaves Research survey found strong consensus among carriers and brokers/3PLs that spot rates are still a few months from hitting bottom, but that they’ll start to climb again in the second half of 2023.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Outbound demand in Denver is swinging up after falling to a two-year low earlier this month, and Salt Lake City has shown consistent headhaul market activity since Labor Day.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Contract rates still face downward pressure, especially for live/live loads.

Hurricane Ian boosted spot rates in the southeast over the past 10 days, but as rejection rates and volumes decline, when will spot rates on a national level take another step lower.

Atlanta is seeing consistent levels of outbound volume, retaining the majority market share with 4.1%. Diesel prices are decreasing at a faster rate than they increased over the summer.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Headhaul markets historically begin to send out more volume in preparation for the holiday peak, but 2022 continues to show different trends.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Contract and spot rates continue their downward trend despite volume levels and rejection rates flattening out…

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.

In the nine days since July began, OTRI fell 141 basis points (bps) to its lowest level in over two years: 6.7%. In the three days following that bottom, OTRI clawed back 50 bps. At present, however, it seems as though any upward momentum upon which it could have built has been lost.

Volume levels are depressed this week by Monday’s holiday. The national average rate of tender rejections sunk below 7% late in the week, but linehaul spot rates…

Volume levels have made a final push before the second quarter ends. The national rejection rate has recovered from its earlier dip below 8%…

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 8%…

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

Auction prices for used trucks are dropping as more equipment shows up amid cooling spot freight demand.

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

“The cost of trucking is dramatically going down and we’re hitting a recession that is not going to get any better. It’s surprising how many shippers are running annual bids when they should be running three-month bid cycles on almost all of their lanes,” said Emerge founder and CEO Andrew Leto.

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

Volume levels have restarted their decline, as have spot rates. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller analyzes the impact of rising diesel costs on the spot market and the trucking industry.

Volume levels have restarted the decline after recovering after Easter Weekend. The national rejection rate has fallen below 9%…

“Higher shipping costs hit prices of imported goods at the dock within two months and quickly pass through to producer prices — many of whom rely on imported inputs to manufacture their goods,” IMF researchers wrote.

Tender volumes and tender rejection rates are both on a rapid decline, signaling trouble for the truckload market. Carriers and shippers alike will need to…

Heavily contracted carriers are not feeling the full brunt of the truckload market easing just yet, but there is still a lot to be determined about what happens next.

Spot rates continue the rapid descent as truckload capacity continues to loosen rapidly. At the same time, accepted tender volumes turn…

On its first-quarter call with analysts, management from J.B. Hunt said demand indications from customers have been strong. The path is likely not as easy for smaller players in the space.

Tender rejection rates are rapidly headed toward single digits, causing spot rates to resemble a black diamond slope rather than the bunny…

Tender volumes and tender rejection rates are both on a rapid decline, signaling trouble for the truckload market. Carriers and shippers alike will need to…

Tender volumes and tender rejection rates are both on a rapid decline, signaling trouble for the truckload market. Carriers and shippers alike will need to…

Both tender volumes and tender rejection rates take a breather over the past week. It’s too early to be called a trend but definitely…

Both tender volumes and tender rejection rates take a breather over the past week. It’s too early to be called a trend but definitely…

Both tender volumes and tender rejection rates take a breather over the past week. It’s too early to be called a trend but definitely…

Tender volumes recover most of last week’s decline while rejection rates continue their slow downward trend despite contract rate increases…

Tender volumes take a February nap, sliding 4% over the past week while rejection rates were flat despite weather affecting certain markets..

Tender volumes continue to outperform year-ago levels. Rejection rates have declined throughout the past week as carriers return to major…

“Everything we have sails. Every box we have we try to move,” says Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen.

Tender volumes continue to outperform year-ago levels. Rejection rates have declined throughout the past week as carriers return to major…

Tender volumes continue to outperform year-ago levels. Rejection rates have declined throughout the past week as carriers return to major…

Shippers may benefit from limiting the number of partners they work with in a loose market, but this exclusionary approach has become a serious — and seriously expensive — problem as capacity has tightened and rates have climbed to record highs.

Tender volumes continue to outperform year-ago levels. Rejection rates have declined throughout the past week as carriers return to major…

Tender volumes continue to outperform year-ago levels. Rejection rates are continuing to rise in a unseasonable pattern placing pressure…

Learn about Automating the Spot Quote Process for Full Truckload Brokers

Rates reach new highs as capacity was slow to return to the road following the holidays. Tender volumes are soaring as demand is unrelenting…

Prices have increased 17% but carrier compliance shows only marginal improvement

Truckload volumes are beginning to erase holiday noise associated with Christmas and New Year’s. Rejection rates are staying elevated…

After a year of record revenue, carriers are staying of the road during the holiday weeks, holding rejection rates higher for longer…

Rejection rates are now back above 22%, the highest level since early September. Pricing power moved further to carriers despite the holiday related tender volume collapse.

Rejection rates have surged past the 21% level on the national level. Meanwhile, volumes have turned positive year-over-year. The combination of tightening capacity and stronger demand is placing upward pressure on rates.

Volumes turn downward heading into the Christmas week while rejection rates have rebound back above 20%. Carriers still maintain a firm grip on pricing power in the market.

Volume levels are following a similar trend to 2019, just 40% higher. Tender rejection rates are trending sideways, likely to move higher over the next week.

With spot rates soaring, Edge Logistics President Will Kerr gives his take on where the freight market is going in 2022 during a fireside chat at the FreightWaves Domestic Supply Chain Summit.

Tender volumes decline but remain elevated compared to ‘normal years’ meanwhile rejection rates have found footing around 20%.

Tender volumes decline but remain elevated compared to ‘normal years’ meanwhile rejection rates have found footing around 20%.

Ultimately, utilizing digital tools to manage spot transactions drives down both transportation and labor costs.

“Partnering with someone like Emerge, someone whose primary focus is staying in tune with technology, we can move much faster, pivot when need be and continue to move forward and focus on operational execution for our customers,” said DHL Supply Chain North America’s president of transportation.

Tender volumes have started to erase the Thanksgiving noise. At the same time, rejection rates have plateaued around the 20% mark.

Thanksgiving noise continues to mask freight volumes, but that noise will be erased in the upcoming days. Meanwhile, Thanksgiving drove spot rates higher over the past week.

Thanksgiving always leads to a sharp decline in tender volumes. Leading into Thanksgiving freight markets experienced an uptick in accepted volumes.

Spot rates didn’t experience the uptick that rejection rates did last week. Thanksgiving is impacting both freight volumes and capacity.

The refrigerated truckload sector’s capacity recovery has stalled this fall while van has continued to stabilize. Here is the reason.

Rejection rates have accelerated over the past week as drivers start to come off the road for the holiday.

Private trucking fleets expand amid soaring spot rates According to a recent National Private Truck Council Report, private fleets continue to expand due to high spot market rates and dwindling capacity in the market. Less capacity equals less service, and service metrics remain a big driver for in-house transportation. For large common carriers (they haul […]

Volume growth dissipates to kick off November while rejection rates remain well below year-ago levels.

The trucking spot market is showing signs of softening in a somewhat unexpected time. Should shippers breathe a sigh of relief or is this the calm before the storm?

Volume growth dissipates to kick off November while rejection rates remain well below year-ago levels.

Volume growth dissipates to kick off November while rejection rates remain well below year-ago levels. Tightness in Southern California will put upward pressure on rates.

FMCSA new authority approval at record high from spot rates and tight capacity  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is setting records. New motor carrier authority approvals are at an all-time high — around 10,000 each month. As of September, around 82,000 approvals for authority had been granted in 2021, compared with 59,500 for the […]

Volume growth dissipates to kick off November while rejection rates remain well below year-ago levels. Tightness in Southern California will put upward pressure on rates.

Tender volumes rebound as tender rejection rates jump back over 20%. Meanwhile, spot rates break the three-week downward decline.

Load volumes are stable with volume growth inbound. Spot rates follow rejection rates on a downward slide.

Load volumes are stable with volume growth inbound. Spot rates follow rejection rates on a downward slide.

Freight volumes in the largest markets are starting to accelarting, signaling the start of the peak truckload season.

Freight volumes in Southern California are starting to ramp, signaling the start of the peak truckload season.

Elevated accepted tender volumes and rates signal that carriers are maintaining pricing power. Truckload capacity constraints are easing as contract rates climb.

Strong freight volumes signal that carriers are firmly in the driver seat with regards to pricing power.

Yes, despite the headaches, the ocean carriers are making boatloads of money.

People use the term “contract rate” in trucking and think that it is binding. It is not. In reality, it just means a prenegotiated rate both parties have the right to reject at the time of the tender.

There has never been more attention paid to freight transportation than what we are experiencing now. And like the Wall Street Bets crowd on Reddit, our industry loves talking about the direction of the market. While FreightWaves and other industry publications have always talked about freight rates, mainstream media is getting into the game. This […]

Strong freight volumes signal that carriers are firmly in the driver seat with regards to pricing power.

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Spot rate snap back signals that carriers are firmly in the driver seat with regards to pricing power.

In this sensitive market, small changes to the balance have deep, long lasting impacts.

In this sensitive market, small changes to the balance have deep, long lasting impacts.

Will Hurricane Ida impact freight contracts? Will carriers move from shippers’ contracted freight to the spot market?

The rise in volumes continues to outpace the rise in rejection rates, and spot rates keep climbing.