Marshall Land, a road driver at our Little Rock, Arkansas, service center, has been living his dream of driving trucks since 1965. 

“As a young boy, I had a few dreams — I wanted to be an airplane pilot, I wanted to drive a Greyhound bus, and I wanted to be a truck driver,” Land said. “I ended up pursuing my No. 1 dream, which was driving trucks. I stayed with it, put a lot into it and have gotten a lot out of it.” 

Land began his driving career one year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  

Intermodal overview: what to expect from this transportation mode  

If you’re looking for extra capacity in a tight freight market or exploring cost-saving options for your supply chain, intermodal shipping could be what you need. Anything from electronics to home décor can ship securely via intermodal, and if you have consistent shipments traveling 750 miles or more, it can offer a number of benefits along

What’s impacting supply and demand in the truckload market? 

In the last two updates, we focused on how changing consumer behavior has altered the truckload market. Escalating retail sales, driven by a shift to online retail, has provided a catalyst for the robust demand we have experienced over the last several months. Increased demand against the backdrop of fixed truckload capacity has led to skyrocketing spot market rates. To get a clear sense of what’s happening, we need to closely monitor key indicators related to both demand and capacity.  

Understanding accessorial fees and which ones you might need 

Because many shipments need more than standard pick-up and delivery options, transportation providers often offer additional solutions to customize the service. But since not everyone needs the same add-ons, they’re charged as accessorial fees.

Is full truckload the right option for my shipment? 

Like with any logistics solution, the decision to use full-truckload shipping really depends on whether your shipment can benefit from the way the service works. When you break full truckload down to its basic components, it’s differentiated from other transportation options in two ways: the fact that you get exclusive use of the equipment (which is untrue for modes like LTL) and how the market works.

Get answers to your truckload shipping questions

The full-truckload market is valued at more than $193 billion in the U.S., and more than 928,000 for-hire carriers are available to shippers. With a market that size, it’s no surprise there are a lot of questions about how to navigate it — especially for people new to the industry. If that’s you, check

Make the best decisions for your shipments by understanding transit options 

“How long does freight shipping take?” — it’s the question every shipper wants to know the answer to so they can plan appropriately and set the right expectations for delivery. And it depends on several things. Let’s look at how transit times are calculated, the things that could impact delivery, and what to expect for each mode and service option.  

As we approach the holiday season, it is more important than ever for shippers to understand market dynamics. This month’s market update will highlight several macroeconomic factors that are impacting the truckload market. In turn, you will be in a better position to set expectations with your stakeholders.  

Understanding the difference between freight pricing options  

Contract rates and spot rates are two of the most common pricing options when shipping truckload freight. Understanding how they work can help you determine which type of rate to use for each load — enabling you to manage your freight budget more efficiently and save on shipping costs. Let’s look at the definitions of both, and then go over when it makes most sense to use one or the other.  

Get capacity and competitive rates in your key truckload lanes  

Peak season demand, fluctuating capacity levels and other market changes can cause delays and rate increases for truckload shippers. And when these issues happen in areas critical to your supply chain, your bottom line can take a significant hit.