Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

Tender lead times last week hit their highest value since SONAR released tender data in 2018, averaging 3.76 days between tender and requested pickup. The previous high of 3.68 was set last year at the same time. Is this a longer-running trend or just a seasonal glitch? Christmas is typically the seasonal peak of the Outbound Tender Lead Time (OTLT) index. Lead times increase leading into major national holidays as transportation managers tender loads for pickup for the period of time beyond th

State lawmakers are taking wider aim at lawsuit abuse, working to curtail an issue that for years has vexed the trucking industry and which now is drawing more mainstream legislative attention due to the thousands of dollars per year it is estimated to cost average Americans. Per the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, frivolous lawsuits are estimated to cost the average U.S. household more than $4,000 per year, as measured in tort costs incurred by each state. The Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform pu

Recent trailer data released by ACT Research and FTR Transportation Intelligence showed net trailer orders improving compared to October but below seasonal expectations, as fleets prioritize spending on Class 8 tractors. ACT Research reported November net trailer orders rose 23% to 20,800 units. Year-to-date orders are at 139,100 units, down 34% compared to November 2023’s total ytd orders at 211,000 bookings. While bookings rose, so did the order backlog. Jennifer McNealy, director – CV market

The transportation sector is currently experiencing a significant power shift, marked by rising freight rates and a tightening of capacity. This shift favors carriers over shippers, allowing companies such as J.B. Hunt Transport Services (NASDAQ: JBHT) and FedEx Corporation (NYSE: NYSE:FDX) to capitalize on the changing dynamics. Companies with extensive networks, efficient operations, and a keen understanding of these market fluctua

Some of the largest food and agriculture companies significantly reduced their workforces or closed facilities in 2024 following a stretch of declining sales and rising costs. Tractor giants Deere & Co. and Agco had a rough year in terms of sales as crop farmers held onto old equipment and took out fewer loans for big purchases thanks to a down farm economy. They are actively cutting production at their plants as dealers make their way through a surplus of inventory. Meanwhi

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee met on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to discuss the truck parking shortage and how federal dollars and authorities can help.  The discussion went almost all day Tuesday and wrapped up Wednesday morning with a list of recommendations for the federal government. A wide range of ideas and issues considered came from industry participants as FMCSA's Associate Administrator for Policy Larry Minor

2024 marks the 30th consecutive year for poultry to outperform every other agricultural commodity in Mississippi, and for the second time in three years, its farm gate value fell just shy of $4 billion. “We have seen a ramp-up in both broiler and table egg production in 2024 compared to production rates seen in 2023,” said Jonathan Moon, poultry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “This increase in meat and egg production directly impacts the value of th

For much of the last year, grain freight buyers’ shipping costs have been relatively benign. The International Grains Council’s Grains and Oilseeds Freight Index, though experiencing some volatility, has declined — falling from 177 points in mid-December 2023 to just 129 on Dec. 10, 2024. As always, the supply-demand balance of the overall bulk carrier fleet has set the tone for grain shippers using vessels of panamax size and smaller, with grain flows influencing the market for less-t

FedEx (FDX) announced the much-anticipated spinoff of its freight trucking division on Thursday, as it restructures operations to focus on its core delivery business. Shares jumped 7% in premarket trading, adding $5 billion to FedEx's market capitalization. Analysts believe the spinoff could unlock up to $20 billion in shareholder value, while clearing the way for FedEx management to zero in on merging operations of

The transportation industry stands at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges that threaten its very foundation. With litigation costs soaring, especially in jurisdictions notorious for nuclear verdicts, trucking companies are finding themselves in a precarious position. Meanwhile, railroads, known for their safety and efficiency, represent an untapped ally in this battle against rising costs and legal exposure. Imagine if railroads and trucking companies were to join forces and

“Is this a good time to buy a truck?” It’s a question heard often in the industry, and the answer is usually the same: “Maybe … but then again, maybe not.” This is obviously not a very satisfactory answer, but the truth is that whether you’re thinking about adding another truck to a small fleet or buying your first truck and striking out as an owner-operator, there are numerous factors to take into consideration. Consider capacity and rates. When i

Wisconsin manufacturers are bracing for the impacts of tariffs and trade wars in the next Donald Trump presidency, although some companies may get a break from foreign competition. Tariffs, fees levied on imports, make it more expensive for U.S. manufacturers to produce goods using raw materials and components from outside the United States. Also, when other countries retaliate with their own trade sanctions, it hurts sales of American products in those markets. Pres

Shippers support scrapping regulations that prescribe how trucking companies and shippers write freight transportation contracts, while trucking companies strongly oppose such actions. Their views were expressed in comments submitted last week to the Interstate Commerce Commission on the ICC's proposal to repeal those rules, including one requiring contracts be put in writing.Last July, the commission began a proceeding to consider repealing the contract rules. The move was intended, i

On the December State of Freight webinar on Tuesday, FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller and SONAR Director of Freight Market Intelligence Zach Strickland discussed the outlook for the 2025 freight market. In the prior month’s webinar, they declared the freight recession over. From here, the question becomes how dramatically the market will improve. Specifically, how much will freight rates rise? Fuller expects rates to rise at least 4% but would increase as much as 6% as changing market dynamics s

A family-owned Missouri trucking company with 265 trucks and 255 drivers recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Founded in 1983 by Randall Walker, RBX Inc. of Strafford, Missouri, hauls general freight, beverages and paper products, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER website.  The petition, filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri, on Friday, lists James A. Keltner as CEO of RBX.  No reason was

While various businesses are preemptively responding to President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats, economists are curious to see exactly what tariffs the next administration will implement — and how they could affect the trucking industry. Trump’s various proposals, discussed before and after he secured his second term, include 25% tariffs across North America and much more aggressive trade barriers against China. “He’s talked about a 60% tariff from all goods from China and

Trucking and logistics firm Kal Freight Inc., located in California, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to restructure its business using debtor-in-possession financing with the least amount of disturbance to daily operations. The business selected Development Specialists, Inc. and Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones to manage the process and promised clients, staff, and vendors that payments would be made on time and that services would remain dependable.

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Hey truckers, listen up! The freight market’s heating up, and it’s looking good for your wallets. Let’s break down what’s happening and what it means for you out on the road. The SONAR National Truckload Index (NTI) is showing some numbers we haven’t seen in almost two years. We’re talking $2.53 per mile! The last time rates were this high was back in January 2023. Truckload spot rates are up 34 cents a mile since Oct. 1, 2024, a 15% increase. In the past week, we’ve seen spot rates ju

Last week we finished up our contracted bushels and committed another chunk of bushels to deliver before the end of the year. With Christmas and New Year’s falling in the middle of the week, we were pretty conservative on the quantity. I planned on running one truck three or four days a week, hauling two or three loads a day. (Our best market opportunities are an hour one way.) Until this week lines were few and far between. Closures or reduced dump hours also were not common. This wee

In recent years, the concept of human wellbeing has expanded to include multiple factors like health, relationships, purpose, and positive emotions. As Alejandro Adler and Martin Seligman suggest, it’s about more than just feeling happy—it’s also about finding meaning, managing stress, and maintaining physical health. But what does this have to do with farming, livestock production and the stresses of farmers’ everyday life? When it comes to regenerative grazing, often farmer wellbeing

In anticipation of a tighter truck freight market in 2025, some shippers have started making contract adjustments as pricing power begins to shift to carriers. “We’re actually seeing price appreciation in contract rates as the spread between spot and contract is increasing,” said Ryan Grote, supply chain solution analyst at FreightWaves. “Roughly 70% of freight moves under contract, and the fact that we’re already seeing those prices start to appreciate I think is another signal

Several U.S. sectors are preparing for imminent changes the transition to a Republican president and Congress promise to bring. Stories focused on upcoming changes are excerpted below. President-elect Donald Trump's planned immigration crackdown and tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will hit the housing market with a "one-two punch," report Elizabeth Findell and Gina Heeb of The Wall Street Journal. "In Texas, California, New Jersey and the Distr

Ever been through something so traumatic or stressful that you actually held your breath until it passed? I haven’t been here on Overdrive Extra as usual these last few months, for several reasons. First, I have been deep into writing my dissertation to complete my degree. (Though I was warned of this, admittedly, it’s turned out to be some of the most time-consuming and intensive work I have ever done.) Second, I have struggled with writer's block with regard to sharing my thoughts wi

Drought, less irrigation, and more forage are cutting into corn production, he says. Add in two new gluten plants in central Kansas and more wheat is going north than to traditional mill markets. “We’ve generally always been a deficit corn area,” explains Boyd, “but there have been more pricing opportunities to truck and rail corn in from outside the area. With all the feedlots, dairy, and swine production in our area, there is a strong feed grain demand and more of that demand is bein

In one of the sector’s biggest bankruptcies of 2024, trucking company Kal Freight has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in order to wind down failing affiliates and restructure its primary business. Bankruptcy court documents show that the company owes approximately $325m to creditors, including Daimler, TBK Bank and Bank of America. High demand during the pandemic saw Kal Freight invest heavily in trucks and trailers, but once the crisis subsided, the company was overl

Insurance premiums are one of the top five costs for motor carriers, and carriers’ premiums traditionally are the same every month regardless of how many miles they drive. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Reporting-style insurance is just that: insurance based on what is reported. Premiums are calculated based on actual usage metrics (e.g., mileage or revenue) rather than estimated or static numbers. This ensures that carriers only pay for the coverage they need, which can be cost

Steve Talamo and Clint Abernathy run Cleve's Logistics, a two-truck fleet serving the ports in South Carolina with just a few years of authority behind it. As such, when they play on the spot market, they're subject to brokers' "carrier vetting" craze -- judged by circumstances out of their control, like how many roadside inspections they've received (none in Cleve's case for the last two years).   That's been the experience of untold numbers of owner-operators and oth

Managing multiple trucks in 2024 shouldn’t mean juggling text messages or spreadsheets. These outdated methods could be costing you time and money. In today’s competitive trucking market, streamlining your operations is key to staying ahead. BulkTMS simplifies the way you manage your bulk freight business with an all-in-one platform designed for: Effortless Dispatching: Assign loads with just a few clicks. Seamless Invoici

The trucking industry has strong opinions about regulators’ independent contractor classification rules. But how important are these rules? The classification concerns a regulation that has little effect on the industry and a population that makes up a minority of total drivers. “It’s a smaller percentage of the overall group of drivers, but it is very important—both to those individuals that decide to go down that route and also to the companies that work with them,” Nathan Mehrens, VP of work

The top Democrat in the Senate called on colleagues to finalize comprehensive funding measures to avert a federal shutdown on Dec. 20. Shortly after returning to Washington after the Thanksgiving recess, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) pointed to the need to approve bipartisan fiscal 2025 bills for operations at the Department of Transportation and other agencies. He also downplayed the effectiveness of temporary measures known as “continuing resolutions” for government f

The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would streamline the TSA's background check program for commercial carriers. Senate Bill 3959, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024, would cut redundant processes from the Transportation Worker Identification Credential and Hazardous Materials Endorsement programs. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Two major industry organizations, the American Trucking Associations and National

Hundreds of truck drivers will get behind the wheel later this month hauling, for what is for many drivers, their most important load of the year. The drivers will be hauling loads for Wreaths Across America, the nonprofit that places wreaths on the gravestones of veterans. This year, more than 800 drivers will deliver wreaths to more than 4,900 locations across the United States and its territories.  “This whole mission is a great mission but it doesn’t happen without the truck

More truck drivers are looking for a new job, and they could get what they want from a new carrier as the economy improves and turnover rates increase. In its most recent truck driver survey, Professional Driver Agency and Conversion Interactive Agency found that 41% of drivers are currently looking for a new driving job. That’s the highest percentage of job-seeking drivers since the survey has been asking the question. Although the percentage of truck drivers looking for new op

Farming is no stranger to stress. Whether it’s unpredictable weather, fluctuating market prices, or rising operational costs, the challenges that come with farming often make headlines. News reports frequently focus on the negative, painting a picture of an industry in crisis, where farmers are caught in a cycle of hardship. Report show that farmers are an aging workforce, farmers are at high risk of injury and farm incomes fluctuate. These reports can be discouraging to read or watch, especiall

Heniff Transportation Systems (CCJ Top 250, No. 64) has acquired 30-truck food grade tanker hauler Hagen Johnson Trucking. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Not included in the deal is Reedsburg, Wisconsin-based Korth Transfer. Heniff Founder and CEO Bob Heniff noted three of his company's operating divisions -- Carry Transit, Total Clean, and Heniff Logistics -- benefit most from this transaction, and Heniff plans to combine Janesville, Wisconsin-based Hagen Johnso

Food producer Cargill said Tuesday it will cut about 8,000 jobs globally after falling crop prices tanked profits of the largest privately held company in the US. The Minneapolis-based firm, the world’s largest agricultural commodities trader, plans to slash its 164,000-person workforce by 5%. Most of Cargill’s job reductions would take place this year, the company’s president and CEO, Brian Sikes, said in a memo reviewed by Reuters. “They will focus on streamlining our organiza

We've always hated factoring companies. That's why we created our own 10 years ago. To give you a resource that can help you grow and get you the cash flow that you need, when you need it. No contracts - meaning you can stop factoring with us at any time. That way you don't have to worry about ever getting stuck No minimums - meaning you can pick and choose which loads you want to factor. No need to worry about hitting a monthly minimum Other factoring companies have made

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced multiple steps to deliver on the President’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to promote fair and competitive markets for American farmers and ranchers, and lower food prices for American families. The following actions were announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a Farmers and Ranchers in Action event hosted by the White House. • First, through a multipart framework, USDA is leveraging it

Semi-retired small-fleet owner Lynn DeNeve started his DeNeve Enterprises LLC business 33 years ago, but trucking wasn’t on his radar at the time. It was a mowing and lawn care operation back then, eventually expanding into removal.  Yet he was also working the family farm, which needed a truck to haul grain. “That’s how I got started in my first truck,” he said. DeNeve has now been in the trucking business pulling hopper bottoms hauling feed ingredients, fertilizer and

Excessive legal settlements and soaring inflation costs are frustrating the trucking industry, despite technology and culture improvements enabling carriers to achieve new levels of safety, according to Werner Enterprises President and Chief Legal Officer Nathan Meisgeier. Nuclear verdicts and settlements, or those that cost $10 million or more, are the most problematic, Meisgeier said Nov. 19 at the Stephens Annual Investment Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. But even smaller cases

Ritter, a former freight broker himself once based in Austin, Texas, describes an office culture of Adderall-popping ne’er-do-wells, 9 a.m.-beer-guzzling frat boys and stoners who high-five each other whenever they sell a $5,500 load for $3,000 to some unsuspecting trucker of Eastern European birth they universally refer to as Vlad. The story is told through the eyes of Ritter’s protagonist, Chris. As Chris explains, "Some of them have too many k’s and v’s and y’s to pronounce, so the guys

Trucking companies across the U.S. faced US$165 million in nuclear verdicts — jury awards exceeding $10 million — in 2023, according to the latest Marathon Strategies report. To address such challenges, Iowa became the first state in the U.S. to cap liability damages against trucking companies, helping companies affected by nuclear verdicts. The legislation limits such damages to $5 million (all figures USD). It does not include cases where a trucking company acted negligently, such as through h

Rates are showing some positive signs for carriers in 2024 with market dynamics appearing to fundamentally change, analysts recently said in reports. A DAT Freight & Analytics chart — inspired by Coyote Logistics’ former Chief Strategy Officer Chris Pickett’s Coyote Curve — showed that dry van spot rates have continued to grow year over year since July. “With DAT spot rates net fuel tracking 7% higher than a year ago in Q4, contract rates are rising modestly but consistently across DAT dat

On a sunny, cold autumn day, Chris Martin drove the combine on the family farm with the biggest smile on his face. The monitor showed 302 bushels per acre. The smile wasn’t just because of the “best yield ever” on his Logan County farm, but because Martin was combining at all. When this cornfield was planted, he was lying unconscious in a hospital bed with a brain injury after a serious car accident. While Martin calls it “unbelievable” to be harvesting his family’s best yields yet, his father c

Diesel prices bounced again. Like a rubber ball, prices went back up a little higher than it deceased last week. After a decrease of three cents last week, diesel bounced back up four cents to $3.539 on a national level. The East Coast, Gulf Coast, and Midwest rose the most on average with the East Coast climbing from $3.552 to $3.593. The Gulf Coast rose nearly a nickel from $3.154 to $3.203 while the Midwest ascended from $3.466 to $3.531. The Rocky Mountain region slipped slightly, but less

As expected, October was another strong sales month for new Class 8 trucks in the U.S. Manufacturers reported sales of 20,859 trucks, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. While that number reflects a 4.4% drop from September 2024 sales — and 2.6% lower than October 2023 — it was still strong, given the overcapacity situation in the freight market. Pre-buying in advance of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2027 mandates for tougher fuel mileage and emissions standards is

U.S. trailer orders improved month-over-month in October but remained below October 2023 levels, according to the latest reports from ACT Research and FTR Transportation Intelligence. ACT reported an increase of 4,800 units from September to October, but its October tally of 16,900 units is down 52% year-over-year. A seasonal adjustment at this point in the annual order cycle lowers October’s tally to 12,300 units, but that’s about 16% above September’s seasonally adjusted intake, ACT

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An ag economist says 2024 was a tough year for growers as grain markets continued to move lower. Cody Bills with Farmers Business Network tells Brownfield… “If you didn’t have a disciplined risk management plan where you were forced to sell based on timing throughout the year, a lot of producers were left feeling the full extent of this bear market and selling grain off the combine at prices much lower than what they originally penciled out when they were doing break evens this

Midwest Food Bank is responding to an urgent need in the wake of Hurricane Helene by supplying hay to farmers in North Carolina who are without feed for their livestock. The hurricane’s devastating impact destroyed vast acres of crops, leaving local livestock farmers struggling to secure enough feed for their cattle to survive the winter. With its deep agricultural roots and commitment to disaster relief, Midwest Food Bank is stepping up to provide immediate assistance.   In

Trucking groups celebrated President-elect Donald Trump’s announced pick for transportation secretary, former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, as an ally of the industry who has supported carriers’ priorities. The Wisconsin Republican and former “The Real World: Boston” reality television personality was focused on trucking and supply chain issues during his time in the House from 2011 to 2019, said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear in a statement.

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is deeply disappointed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) decision to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on broker transparency while neglecting to address the far more critical and costly issue of freight fraud. Freight fraud continues to inflict more than $1 billion in losses annually on the U.S. supply chain, threatening the efficiency and security of our nation’s logistics system. By prioritizin

Covenant Logistics Group co-founder and CEO David Parker predicts the trucking industry’s peak season will see positive growth this holiday season. “Last week started the first week of peak that will go until about Christmas, and peak, it shot up about 105% last week, and this week peak is growing even more,” Parker said. “I think that peak is going to be a good peak, I think for the first time in about three or four years. I think after that, we will go into January and February, and

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed three electronic logging devices, or ELDs, from the agency’s list of approved devices. On Monday, November 18, 2024, the FMCSA added the following three ELDs to the agency’s list of “revoked” devices due to failure to meet minimum federal standards: Keep Tracking Rollingtrans ELD – ACCURATE ONE RT ELD Plus – ACCURATE PLUS