Zach Strickland

Just in case ordering has diminished the truckload market's utility, specifically for cross continental freight, but that mechanism may come undone later in the year.

Container imports surged to a multi-year high in early July, driven by importers racing to recover lost time after tariff disruptions. While volumes spiked, this early peak doesn’t necessarily signal stronger demand.. As inventories grow more expensive to hold, maritime carriers are bracing for softer demand and more volatile shipping patterns in the months ahead.

Surface transportation rates took a hard right to start the year, thanks to shifting supply chain strategies and a slowing economy. Is this just a pause or is there further to fall?

Truckload capacity tightened noticeably during the annual CVSA International Roadcheck inspection period.

The truckload market is tightening, but not evenly.

Rejection rates that surged over 6% just before Christmas for loads out of Laredo, Texas, have unexpectedly remained elevated.

The spot-to-contract rate spread is just now in line with 2019 levels. How much longer until we see a stronger response?

There is more than meets the eye looking at the aggregate inventory level data. Retailers are shedding goods at a faster rate than their upstream counterparts, making the total look like a wash. This bodes well for 2025 from an economic perspective.

Hurricanes garner most of the attention, given their threat to life and property, but from an operational point of view, transportation managers and providers should probably increase their focus on winter weather.

There are some significant if subtle takeaways from the truckload markets’ shrinking average length of haul.