Freight Trucking Rates
Freight expectations?
Many important freight data perspectives—container imports, intermodal, less-than-truckload (LTL) tonnage, even truckload (TL) spot loads—show freight volumes in decline. But although there’s no full picture of the truckload sector, we see evidence that TL is gaining share in the freight market, and the overall market is pretty steady. Both dry van and temp-controlled truckload volumes have picked up a considerable share in the shipper-sourced Cass data, which makes sense as capacity has steadily grown.
The record 54,000 dry van, reefer, and platform trailer orders in December show pent-up demand related to power-only brokerages.
The tightening spread between spot and contract rates was in January to 50¢ from 52¢ in December.
CVSA Road Check is scheduled for May 16-18 this year, and will be an interesting litmus test for spot rates. While industry conditions are broadly loose, cost economics will drive a supply/demand balance shift in the spot market first, perhaps as soon as Road Check.
Tim Denoyer
VP & Sr. Analyst
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