Freight Volumes Set to Stay Strong Amid Lean Inventories
LMI suggesting freight market volumes expected to be robust over next near term horizon as inventories stay lean https://t.co/5XGm9vl5J5
Flatbed Rates Hit Record $4.05/mile Post‑Easter
Flatbeds come out of Easter surging to record high of $4.05/mile Up from $3.93/mile before the Easter Holiday. https://t.co/lhIwUSiFya
Industrials and Chemicals Strong, Intermodal Soft on Slow Imports
TD Cowen call with railroad and shipper execs: strength in industrials, with chemicals showing strength with confidence for rest of 2026 Intermodal soft Intermodal is likely soft due to slow imports https://t.co/04LgKSMRa9
Load‑to‑truck Ratios Inflated by Hidden Ghost Loads
Load to truck ratios are not real because they include ghost loads, which according to former DAT insiders are far more significant than they readily admit
ATA's Driver Shortage Myth Harms Trucking and Blocks Entry
The ATA damaged the trucking industry in countless ways by promoting the truck driver shortage lie, eliminating barriers to entry. The problem is that lie stuck and it’s almost impossible to unwind because it is accepted as fact by those that...
Manufacturing Surge Signals Start of New Cycle
He missed the most important part of the story - the strongest part of the report was upstream, not downstream. Upstream is manufacturing, downstream is retail. Upstream was much stronger than downstream, which was the opposite during the Great Freight Recession. This...
Freight Data Signals Early Manufacturing Upswing Ahead of Indicators
I am not an economist, I simply read off the the high frequency data and our channel checks tell me at the time and relay that info. Freight is upstream to demand, so to a casual observer, it appears as...
U.S. Industry’s Shift to Natural Gas Cuts Global Price Exposure
The US was far more reliant upon petroleum in the 1970's for industrial fuel and products than we are today, compounding the price shocks of the embargo. Natural gas is more prevalent for industry today and US natgas prices are...
Bridge Collapse Seen as Deliberate Supply Chain Sabotage
I don’t buy this was an accident. If the bridge had fallen into the water and shut down the canal, it would have a massive impact on the American supply chains. Too perfect of a hit to be an accident, considering...
Trucking Demand Outpaces Capacity, Creating Goldilocks Balance
We could be moving towards a Goldilocks trucking economy, where demand ramps, but capacity increases grow much slower.
Shutting Nuclear Plants Stalled Decades of Global Growth
Decades of global economic growth was stunted because of humanity’s decommissioning of its nuclear plants
Transformer Shortage Extends US Manufacturing Upcycle
The lack of power generation transformers and infrastructure is a good thing for American manufacturing, especially with the incentives under the Big Beautiful Bill - pent up demand will drive the manufacturing upcycle longer
Railcar Storage Plummets, Signaling Strong Freight Demand
SIG: "Railcars in storage experience the largest two-month decline since COVID." When the railcars come of storage, it is a very bullish sign for freight, as it means that shippers are seeing strong demand trends and want more rail car...
Panama Canal Delays Threaten 40% Freight, 20% Energy Exports
Bridge day not going as planned 40% of US container freight passes through the Panama Canal and 20% of US oil and natural gas exports do as well
Japan Commits Billions to U.S., Targets Tennessee Valley
Japan has agreed to invest hundreds of billions in America over the next few years. This is one of their investments - bound for the Tennessee Valley
France’s Nuclear Embrace vs Germany’s Energy Retreat
France should get a ton of credit for embracing nuclear energy, while Germany went the opposite direction
Japan's Future Bright, Europe's Past Fades with US Alliance
Japan’s greatest days are ahead of it, as it recommits to its partnership with America Europe’s best days are behind it, as it moves away from its alliance with the US
Packaging Paper Shipments Rise 4% Signals Industrial Recovery
Another proof point that the industrial recovery is underway and the strength in freight isn’t just capacity. Packaging paper shipments are up 4% YoY https://t.co/rGPd8dyncF
Domestic Manufacturing Essential to End Global Supply Chain Disadvantage
Unfortunately, this is true. And the whole reason we must bring manufacturing back from China. We are at a massive disadvantage as long as our supply chains are global.
US Gas Prices Set to Remain Flat Amid Logistics Limits
This is an amazing primer that explains the natural gas market and why prices are likely to stay flat or fall in the US, despite a global shortage and surging global prices. As Greg states - the limitation is one...
Get Natural Gas Straight From the Permian
Want natural gas? Come to the Permian and just take it. No really, I’m serious.
Higher Oil Prices Trigger Gas Flood, Lower Prices
Natural gas is nearly considered exhaust fluid by US oil drillers, but it is the backbone of the American plastics and petrochemicals industry. Oil is used far less than natgas in American chems or plastics. Natgas has an inverse pricing...
Bulk Rail Growth Unlinked to Diesel Prices, Not Mode‑Shift
The strength of bulk rail in Q1 has little to do with the high price of diesel. Chemical shipments had their largest month on record in February 2026 before it was broken in March. Grains actually had a bigger month...
6% of Active Truck Drivers Likely to Fail Drug Test
6% of active truck drivers would fail a drug test according to a study by the Trucking Alliance
FreightWaves Launches Daily Freight News TV Show
FreightWaves is launching a new TV show, FreightWaves Today, that will cover daily stories from trucking, rail, air, barge, and ocean. SportsCenter meets Bloomberg, but for freight https://t.co/ugYCXSUVy2
Cheap US Gas Fuels Plastics Boom, Boosts Manufacturing
US natural gas prices have dropped by 30% over the past year, even as global natural gas prices have increased substantially in wake of the war in Iran. Why? We have an abundance. 80% of American made plastics and 80-90% of...
US Petrochemical Edge Fueled by 30% Gas Price Drop
America dominates in petrochemicals because of the robust supply of natural gas (where prices have dropped (and continue) by 30% in the past year
U.S. Manufacturing Renaissance Fuels Record Freight Volumes
The American Manufacturing Renaissance is happening. We are now getting confirmation from multiple freight and supply chain datasets that the industrial recovery is real and manufacturing is on course to enjoy one of the best markets in years. The...
BoA Survey Confirms Real Freight Market Recovery
BoA’s shipper survey is one of the most reliable datasets to monitor the health of the freight market. In March 2022, it signaled the collapse in the freight market, alongside SONAR’s data. At the time, there was massive skeptism about the...
ATA Records Highest Tonnage in Three Years Amid Contract Surge
ATA, which survey's their members on tonnage data, reported the highest level in three years. We discussed the spot market carriers and how strong their markets are; the ATA members tend to operate in the contract market, which is seeing...
US Freight Rail Hits Best Start Since 2019
American Assn of Railroads April report was very strong, showing signs of industrial recovery: "US freight rail traffic posted some of its strongest readings in years, offering one of the clearest signals yet that the goods economy is regaining...
Flatbed Spot Rates Outpace Diesel Costs Since March
Duke is wrong. Spot rates have shot up way past the cost of diesel. Flatbed spot rates are up $.73/mile since March 1st. Diesel costs are up $.25/mile since March 1st. Flatbed carriers are +$.48/mile since March 1st. https://t.co/3sbGlP4BmJ
Europe's War Reluctance Grows Amid China Economic Ties
If Europe wouldn't assist in a war with a regime that every leader has condemned that has been left nearly powerless, there is little chance they would support a war against China where strong economic and supply chain dependancies exist
Freight Leads, Payrolls Follow: Industrial Recovery Confirmed
Freight signals move first with payrolls to follow, confirming that the industrial recovery is real The freight charts are showing COVID like strength, all thanks to manufacturing
Truckers Leverage Pricing Power, Spot Rates Outpace Fuel Costs
Lots of questions about whether the surge in diesel is the reason trucking spot rates are also surging. First off, truckers are able to pass off the increased cost of fuel because they have pricing power. This is caused by...
Wars Boost US Freight Demand and Economy
Unpopular opinion. Wars are good for the American economy. Freight demand across all modes is ripping and firming up in recent weeks. https://t.co/RUvpTXWcFl
Rail Carloads Jump 4.2% Amid Broad Freight Surge
Freight volume surge is not just a trucking story. Industrials are ripping across traffic modes Rail carload traffic +4.2% YoY The recent traffic strength has caught rail execs off guard which expected a down to flat year. https://t.co/a6UpG8CwWp
Manufacturing Demand Drives Flatbed Rates to Record High
Flatbeds surge to all time high of $3.95/mile as industrials rip. I would have never guessed this possible with a weak housing construction market, but here we are. Manufacturing pulling the freight market up. https://t.co/1ErbIQE0QL
Ignore Noise, See Strong Economy and Industrial Recovery
Ignore the noise and focus on the signal. Our economy is doing well and industrials are recovering.
Retail Diesel up Slightly While Wholesale Prices Decline
Despite the surge in oil prices on Thursday, retail diesel only went up $.06/gallon overnight to $5.48/gallon. This will cost truckers $.01/mile more for fuel. Interestingly, the rack price (wholesale price for diesel) has actually dropped over the past ten...
SONAR Maps Now Feature Quick Top‑Pick Datasets
New enhancements to the SONAR maps. Rather than digging through the thousands of datasets, we have added these as quick "top picks." https://t.co/iFOfqpZLDM
Supply Chains Shift to Redundant, Costlier Model
"Supply chains will have to pivot from "just-in-time" efficiency back to "just-in-case" redundancy. Inflation returns as safety costs money. Trade routes diversify away from vulnerable chokepoints. The global friction tax becomes permanent."
FMCSA Official to Reveal New Freight Fraud Crackdown
The speaker roster for the Freight Fraud event in Cleveland just got even better. We will have a senior official from the FMCSA to speak about the efforts that the regulators are making to stop freight fraud and cargo crime....
Legal Language Mandates Shutdown Load, but Never Enforced
The confirmation sheet says plant shutdown load and mentions contingent liability, but the shipper said they’d never enforce that language. It’s just required by legal.
Fuel Discount Programs Offer Historic Rack‑to‑Retail Savings
If you are a motor carrier and aren't buying fuel on a discount program, get one today. Rack to retail discount near historical highs. https://t.co/dPpwT6v2cE
Corporate Control Stifles Profitable Editorial Top‑of‑funnel
Been saying this for years, but it rarely works out. It is a very profitable way to generate top of funnel for a non-media business, but corporates struggle to let editorial teams maintain their autonomy. Hopefully it works, but often...
Retail Diesel Rises, but Less Sharply than WTI
WTI is important for diesel pricing, but retail diesel is set on on ULSD heating oil contract traded n NYMEX, which already saw these levels over last 10 days. Retail diesel will move up in price, but nearly as dramatic...
Enforced $50K Penalty Could Deter Hiring Revoked CDLs
The $50k employer penalty for hiring revoked CDLs is a big deterrent, assuming it gets enforced https://t.co/z0Mw4dFKAt
Overbidding to Lose Business Can Unexpectedly Boost Volumes
Hearing that RFP season is chaotic for shippers. A mega fleet CEO told me that they wanted to get rid of a block of business that didn’t fit their network, so they bid 30% higher than the market rate, expecting...
SONAR Thrives with Deep Logistics Analytics Amid Market Squeeze
In markets like this one, companies understand the value of high frequency market analysis, backed by the deepest team of market experts in logistics. Alternative data platforms are failing clients in a tightening market. This is why SONAR just had...