The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and federal stimulus payments are contributing to elevated consumer demand for durable goods, including items such as home furnishings, clothing and electronics. On Saturday, FreightWaves reported that consumers spent 22 percent more on goods in January and 17 percent more on goods in February when compared with 2020. At the national level, demand for flatbed capacity hit its highest point in three years last week, driven by construction and manufacturing. The North American produce season also has just begun and demand for reefer capacity already is extremely high. This is all to say that it’s a good time to be a trucker or carrier. Demand and rates remain very high for this time of year and there’s no end in sight.
In today’s edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that three of the five markets predicted to be most favorable to truckers and carriers this week are flatbed markets, reflecting surging flatbed demand. Also of note is that Tucson, Ariz., will be reclaiming its throne as the hottest reefer market in the country in the coming week. Scroll down to learn more about which markets you should target (and avoid) over the next week!
Where Demand for Trucks Will Be High, Rising
- Texarkana, Texas, Southwestern Ontario, and St. Louis are projected to be the best flatbed markets for truckers/carriers over the next week. Demand for flatbed is expected to rise this week for Wheeling, W. Va., Flagstaff, Ariz., and Lexington, Ky.
- Expect high demand for reefer capacity in the coming week in and out of Tucson, Ariz. You’ll also see demand for reefer capacity increase this week for Grand Junction, Colo.
- Jacksonville, Fla., is projected to be the most profitable power only market in the nation over the next five to seven days. Expect demand for power only capacity to increase over the next week for Jonesboro, Ark.
Where Demand for Trucks Will Be Low, Falling
- Washington D.C. and Stockton, Calif., will be the two coldest flatbed markets in North America over the next week. Also, look for demand for flatbed in and out of Portland, Ore., to decline this week.
- Hartford, Conn., is projected to be the least profitable reefer market in the country this week for truckers and carriers.
- Demand for dry van will be low in the coming week for Ottawa, Ontario, and Dodge City, Kan. Look for dry van demand to fall this week in and out of Rapid City, S.D.
Trucker Tools’ Market Insights
- According to the latest data from Trucker Tools, the best freight markets for truckers/carriers this week will be: 1. Texarkana, Texas (flatbed), 2. Southwestern Ontario (flatbed), 3. Tucson, Ariz. (reefer), 4. Jacksonville, Fla. (power only), and 5. St. Louis (flatbed).
- The worst freight markets for truckers/carriers this week are projected to be: 1. Washington D.C. (flatbed), 2. Ottawa, Ontario (dry van), 3. Hartford, Conn. (reefer), 4. Stockton, Calif. (flatbed), and 5. Dodge City, Kan. (dry van).
- After briefly falling out of Trucker Tools’ top five hottest markets list, the Tucson, Ariz., reefer market is back in today’s top five list.
- Demand for flatbed capacity in and out of Texarkana, Texas, currently is 11 times higher than it was at this time last year.
- HVACR manufacturer Lennox International and aluminum coil manufacturer Texarkana Aluminum both have manufacturing facilities in Texarkana, Texas, which may be contributing to high demand for flatbed capacity in the region.
Read Stay Ahead of Your Competitors with Trucker Tools’ New Market Report to find out how you can use “Where’s the Freight?” to maximize your profit margins and outperform the competition. To download Trucker Tools’ free driver app, visit https://www.truckertools.com/carriers/.
