White Paper—Get Ahead of the Curve: Learning From the Past to Prepare for the Future

The past three years have offered an opportunity—the best in decades—to study the wildly volatile freight market. In 2017 and 2018, an abundance of freight led carriers to gain pricing power and expand their operations while shippers grasped for creative solutions to find new capacity. In 2019, after a year of historic tightening of truck capacity from hurricanes, ELDs and corporate tax cuts, truck capacity gained flexibility. Shippers regained confidence, but this confidence should be tempered with caution and readiness, since data reveals 2020 to be a year of tightening capacity and increased volatility. 

A nine-question survey conducted by FreightWaves, in partnership with New York City-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider Transfix, elicited responses from 119 shippers who approach 2020 with high confidence. The survey was conducted to learn how shippers can rely on logistics partners and strategize for a tight market given that one sits on the horizon.

This white paper pairs FreightWaves’ survey results with SONAR data to closely examine the contributing factors of volatility in the most recent freight cycle, predict the tightening market in 2020 and show how shippers can use data to increase visibility and stability.  

Complete the form below to download your complimentary copy.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Fraud & Security

Freight Fraud Symposium

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

May 20, 2026
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH
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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 Office • Chicago, IL
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Rail & Policy

Future of Rail Symposium

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

July 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
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Fraud & Security Freight Fraud Symposium May 20 • Cleveland, OH

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register Now
AI & Technology Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • Chicago, IL

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

The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register Now
Rail & Policy Future of Rail Symposium Jul 28 • Chattanooga, TN

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

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