Heck of a time to be a flatbedder: High demand indicators on offer in this week’s spot update
All that dark green in the map? That means flatbedders utilizing DAT load boards have been busy, with a serious imbalance between the number of posted flatbed loads and the number of posted available trucks. What’s more: It’s been that way since winter…
Truck availability rose on spot market last week, moderating rates even as reefer/van volumes increased
The post-Easter lull in reefer volumes didn’t last long. Load counts were up 15 percent last, close to where they were at the close of the first quarter. Produce is moving out of Southern California and Central Florida, but we’re just getting started.
Amazon: The 800-pound gorilla still in need of a few good lumpers
This week’s Overdrive Radio podcast edition tells the story of an Amazon load hauled by Gary and Ondena Caraway, whose fine print said 12-48 hours would be required for unload at the Edwardsville, Ill., facility. When that 48 hours turned into a week…..
Spring has sprung on the spot market
So much for March going out like a lamb. Nationally, the final week of the month featured a 3.5 percent increase in available freight, a 3.1 percent decrease in capacity, and another record high load-to-truck ratio for flatbed freight, and rates contin…
April Fool’s Day ELD-OOS nightmare some are expecting may not be tough as advertised
In the weekly spot market update, a little intel from a recent DAT survey suggests FMCSA’s 96 percent ELD compliance rate is probably close to correct. Meantime, spot rates hold firm, and may be on the rise this week with volume trends in dry van, flat…
April Fool’s Day ELD-OOS nightmare some are expecting may not be tough as advertised
In the weekly spot market update, a little intel from a recent DAT survey suggests FMCSA’s 96 percent ELD compliance rate is probably close to correct. Meantime, spot rates hold firm, and may be on the rise this week with volume trends in dry van, flat…
Brian Hardman, broker of Fulmer Logistics: ‘Load boards are a gamble, for me and for carriers’
And more from Hardman, whose two decades as a broker follow time driving OTR, among other things. His business, built on close relationships with a core team of owner-operators, is the focus of the second installment in “Long Haul Paul” Marhoefer’s “Fa…
Podcast special edition: Lay of the land for owner-ops, by the numbers again with ATBS’ Todd Amen
This special edition of the Overdrive Radio podcast features audio from ATBS President Todd Amen’s March 20 conference call for owner-operators outlining annual mileage, revenue and income averages from 2017, among other metrics, for segments among its…
Van, reefer demand update: Rates reverse course, heading up in the last week
Van volumes have been rising for two weeks, and rates followed last week. Meanwhile, reefer has mimicked van trends, though swings have been sharper. At once, spot rates have on average been above contract rates for reefers since September, perhaps por…
Resources for broker credit checks, collections and filing against a bond
Further information on avenues toward researching any broker’s credit history, filing on a broker’s bond and collections activity.