The winter storms that hit Texas and other parts of the country over the past two weeks continue to impact demand for trucks across the nation. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?” you’ll notice that two markets where demand for flatbed capacity is projected to rise this week are in Texas, reflecting fallout from these storms. Outbound tender rejections, which measure demand for trucks, for dry van are holding steady at 26 percent according to a report yesterday from FreightWaves, which is much higher than normal for this time of year. In general, demand for trucks remains high across the country, which is why our list of cold or cooling markets is so short today.
Read on to learn what markets to target and avoid in the coming week in your Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?”
Hot Markets for Truckers, Carriers
- This week, Rapid City, S.D., and Southwest Ontario (Canada) will be the hottest flatbed markets for truckers and carriers. Flatbed demand will be rising this week for Texarkana, Texas, Lubbock, Texas, and Billings, Mont.
- Tucson, Ariz., will remain the hottest reefer market in the nation in the coming week. Demand for reefer is expected to rise over the next five to seven day period for Grand Junction, Colo.
- Rapid City, S.D., also is projected to be the top dry van market for truckers/carriers this week.
- Demand for power only in and out of Columbus, Ohio, is expected to be high over the next week. We’ll also see demand and rates for power only increase in the coming week for Macon, Ga.
Cold Markets for Truckers, Carriers
- Brooklyn, N.Y. and Stockton, Calif., will be two of the least desirable flatbed markets for truckers and carriers this week. Demand for flatbed is expected to fall this week for Yakima, Wash.
- Demand and rates for reefer will be low over the next five to seven days for Hartford, Conn., Reno, Nev., and Seattle.
Trucker Tools’ Market Insights
- Based on the latest Trucker Tools data, the top five markets for truckers and carriers over the next week will be: 1. Tucson, Ariz. (reefer), 2. Rapid City, S.D. (flatbed), 3. Southwest Ontario (flatbed), 4. Columbus, Ohio (power only), and 5. Rapid City, S.D. (dry van).
- Based on today’s data from Trucker Tools’ software platforms, the five coldest markets for truckers and carriers over the next week will be: 1. Hartford, Conn. (reefer), 2. Brooklyn, N.Y. (flatbed), 3. Stockton, Calif. (flatbed), 4. Reno, Nev. (reefer), and 5. Seattle (reefer).
- Tucson, Ariz., has been the best reefer market for truckers and carriers for the last 13 weeks in a row.
- Rapid City, S.D., has been ranked as one of the best flatbed markets in the country by “Where’s the Freight?” for the last five consecutive weeks in a row.
- Rapid City, S.D., our projected top flatbed market this coming week, is home to aerospace component manufacturer Tri-Tech Manufacturing, petroleum equipment manufacturer Grimm’s Pump & Industrial Supply and machine tool manufacturer Accurpress, as well as B&T Manufacturing and VRC Metal Systems.
More Market Insights — from FreightWaves
Trucker Tools is partnering with FreightWaves to give you additional insights into what’s happening with demand and rates in markets at the national level. FreightWaves reports that capacity is still tight in several different Midwest markets and in and out of the port cities of Elizabeth, N.J., Savannah, Ga., and Los Angeles, which gives truckers and carriers the edge on spot rates. It’s expected that demand for capacity generally will remain elevated through the week. High import volumes from China also are expected to continue, which is allowing many carriers to increase their contract rates this year.
Read Where’s the Freight? Columbus, Rapid City, Texarkana, Tucson and Southwest Ontario, Friday’s edition of our hot and cold markets report. To download Trucker Tools’ free driver app, visit https://www.truckertools.com/carriers/.
