The Freight Market is Hot and it is Going to get Hotter

The Freight Market is Hot and it is Going to get Hotter

7 years ago

North American freight markets are witnessing the strongest demand for transportation services in decades. Contract and spot freight rates continue to soar. The contract rate average revenue per mile rose 3.5 percent in 2017. Through the first two months of this year, contract truckload freight rates have jumped 15 percent per mile! “We’ve never seen […]

Conducting a Transportation Audit can help companies Improve their Bottom Lines

7 years ago

This is a year that shippers have been dreading. Increased demand, from retailers looking to restock after the holidays and from manufacturers, has made it harder for companies to book transportation, particularly on short notice. Prices have also risen due to bad weather, a new U.S. federal trucking safety rule, truck and driver shortages and […]

Is it Time to Conduct your Next Freight Bid?

8 years ago

A little over a year ago, I wrote a blog entitled “How do you know when it is time to conduct a freight bid?” (http://www.dantranscon.com/index.php/blog/entry/how-do-you-know-when-it-is-time-to-conduct-a-freight-bid ). In that blog, I outlined a set of general conditions that shippers can use as a guide to reach this decision point. Half way through the first quarter of […]

Freight Bid Tip # 5. Conduct Multiple Rounds of Bidding

9 years ago

The objective of a freight bid project is to secure a range of carriers and logistics service providers that are best able to supply a shipper with the service (e.g. transit times, customer service, shipment tracking information), capacity (e.g. drivers, tractors, trailers, straight trucks) and pricing to ensure the company has a competitive advantage […]

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Freight Bid Tip # 4. Cast a Wide Net in Selecting Carriers and Freight Management Companies

9 years ago

There are thousands of freight carriers, load brokers and logistics service providers throughout North America. One of the important elements of an effective freight bid is to seek out those carriers that can provide the best combination of service, capacity and rates to meet the unique needs of your business. Over the years, we […]

For Truckers, 2015 should be the Year of Yield Management

10 years ago

As we approach the end of February, most truckers would acknowledge that this is a good year for the North American motor carrier industry. Business volumes remain strong, in fact stronger than they have been during the first few months of prior years. Supply and demand remain in pretty good balance. Capacity is tight as […]

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As Freight Rates Go Up, an RFP is still one of the Best Ways to Control Freight Costs

10 years ago

This year, all signs point to rising freight rates. With driver shortages across North America, driver wages are on the rise. On an almost daily basis, there are reports of trucking companies offering signing bonuses and pay for performance (productivity) packages to attract more drivers (at a higher cost) to their firms. Capacity shortages, government […]

What Can Shippers Do to Mitigate the Upcoming Freight Rate Increases?

11 years ago

Freight rate increases are coming this year. The economy is on the upswing. Truck capacity is tightening as driver shortages, government regulations, cost overruns from a very challenging winter and carrier financial prudence all push freight rates in one direction – – – higher What can shippers do to mitigate the impact? A lot. Here […]

What were the Biggest Freight Transportation Stories of 2013? / What will be the Top Trends in 2014?

11 years ago

At the end of each year, I like to take stock of the major freight transportation stories of the past twelve months and look ahead to the trends that will drive the industry in the coming year. The two blogs that I write are prepared from my perspective as a consultant to shippers and carriers. […]

State of Logistics Report Highlights “New Normal” in Freight Transportation

11 years ago

Last week the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals released its 24th annual State of Logistics Report. Last year, business logistics costs were once again 8.5 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the same level they hit in 2011, the new report says. That means freight logistics was growing at about the same rate […]