For truckers like you, peak shipping season really is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the season when many retailers record the bulk of their sales and when rates are often at their highest. Demand for truck capacity is even more intense than usual right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many manufacturers also have ramped up their production and import volumes have increased at ports on both coasts, all of which is driving demand and rates higher and higher.
In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, you’ll see which markets and lanes will be hot over the next five to seven days and where you can expect rates to cool off. Our Market Index Report helps you decide which loads to take and whether or not it’s worth it for you to go into a particular market or not.
Hottest Markets
- Today’s Market Index shows that the hottest flatbed markets over the next week will be Cheyenne, Wyo.; Texarkana, Texas; and Fargo, N.D.
- Reefer demand will be high for the next five to seven days for Tucson, Ariz.; Winnipeg, Man. (Canada);and Dodge City, Kan.
- Rates for power-only will likely be increasing for Jackson, Miss., and Savannah, Ga., in the next week.
- For other types of capacity (including step-deck, tanker and RGN), rates and demand are projected to rise forNorfolk, Va., and Los Angeles.
Cooling Markets
- Over the next week, expect demand for flatbed to fall slightly for Duluth, Minn., and Springfield, Mass.
- Today’s Market Index shows demand and rates trending down for reefer for Shreveport, La., and Hartford, Conn., over the next five to seven days.
- Demand for power-only is predicted to fall over the next week for Wichita, Kan., and Jefferson City, Mo.
Trucker Tools’ Market Insights
- Apotex, the largest generic drug manufacturer in Canada, is headquartered in Winnipeg, Man., as is Cargill, one of the country’s largest meat and food processing plants, which may be driving demand for reefer capacity there.
- Demand for trucks remains extremely high across many markets and even the cooling markets listed above will only be cooling slightly over the next week.
- Yesterday, the FDA endorsed Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and isexpected to recommend the vaccine for emergency use by the end of this week.Shipment of the vaccine may begin as early as next week. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require cold temperature storage, which may impact demand for reefer capacity over the coming weeks and months.
- Fargo, N.D., is home to several agricultural equipment and machinery manufacturers, which may be causing flatbed demand and rates to rise there.
- At present, demand for power-only capacity in Jackson, Miss., is approximately three times as high as it was at this time last year.
- Texarkana, Texas, continues to be red hot for flatbed.
Today’s SONAR Insights
Cooling Markets
- Over the next week, expect demand for flatbed to fall slightly for Duluth, Minn., and Springfield, Mass.
- Today’s Market Index shows demand and rates trending down for reefer for Shreveport, La., and Hartford, Conn., over the next five to seven days.
- Demand for power-only is predicted to fall over the next week for Wichita, Kan., and Jefferson City, Mo.
Trucker Tools’ Market Insights
- Apotex, the largest generic drug manufacturer in Canada, is headquartered in Winnipeg, Man., as is Cargill, one of the country’s largest meat and food processing plants, which may be driving demand for reefer capacity there.
- Demand for trucks remains extremely high across many markets and even the cooling markets listed above will only be cooling slightly over the next week.
- Yesterday, the FDA endorsed Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and isexpected to recommend the vaccine for emergency use by the end of this week.Shipment of the vaccine may begin as early as next week. Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require cold temperature storage, which may impact demand for reefer capacity over the coming weeks and months.
- Fargo, N.D., is home to several agricultural equipment and machinery manufacturers, which may be causing flatbed demand and rates to rise there.
- At present, demand for power-only capacity in Jackson, Miss., is approximately three times as high as it was at this time last year.
- Texarkana, Texas, continues to be red hot for flatbed.
Today’s SONAR Insights
Today’s SONAR Insights
Trucker Tools has teamed up with FreightWaves SONAR to provide you with additional insights about which markets are favorable for truckers. FreightWaves is reporting that demand for dry van remains high, reflected in a national dry van tender rejection rate of nearly 25 percent. Dry van tender rejection rates for Erie, Pa., and Augusta, Ga., are over 50 percent, while Atlanta is currently moving the largest volume of dry van cargo in the country. Look for dry van demand to stay elevated through the Christmas holiday.
SONAR’s Hot Lanes
If you’re running out of Dallas, consider taking one-day hauls to some of the tightest freight markets in the nation, including Little Rock, Fayetteville and Tulsa, which are showing tender rejection rates in the 40 percent or higher range. For Indianapolis to Joplin, SONAR reports that rates continue to favor truckers, but that inbound trucks are outnumbering outbound loads.
Trucker Tools’ Market Index Report is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Read our last Market Index Report, Dec. 14 Market Index Report: Texarkana Flatbed and Tucson Reefer Rates Rise, Jefferson City Power-Only Trends Down for more insights.
To download Trucker Tools’ free driver app, visit https://www.truckertools.com/carriers-toolkit/.
