The first part of the year is usually defined by muted demand and softening rates within the truckload market. By early February, we are several months removed from the peak season freight frenzy. But just as it appeared that the markets would settle back into a typical seasonal pattern, a historic winter storm hammered the country.
According to an American Transportation Research Industry (ATRI) report, 2020 was the first year since 2012 that the ELD mandate has not been included in the Top Industry Issue Rankings. While that may be the case, related issues that affect shippers, like detention/delay and hours-of-service (HOS), remain top concerns. Learn more about the impact the ELD mandate has had on the industry, from implementat
Last month we discussed how slowing retail sales would not translate into reduced demand for transportation. With inventories at historically low levels, even if consumer spending continues to decline, there will be a period of restocking that will keep demand elevated well into the second quarter of this year. This restocking period will also be a boon for U.S Manufacturers.
If a shipment has specific temperature requirements, failure to meet them can cause items to lose their value — decreasing product acceptance rates (or increasing returns) and making it difficult for you to get paid for your orders. Use these 7 tips to safeguard your freight and ensure everything arrives as it should.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.