Dana Guthrie

BEAVERTON, Ore. — With supply chains adjusting to Hurricane Helene-related cleanup in the Southeast and uncertainty over a strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, the total number of loads posted on DAT One increased 14.9% to 2.01 million week over week. That’s the highest number of available loads since Week 29 (July 7-13). Dry Vans ▲  Van loads: 952,242, up 16.5% week over week ▼  Van equipment: 169,815, down 21.5% ▲  Linehaul rate: $1.65 net fuel, up 4 cents ▲  Load-to-truck ratio: 4.5, up from 3.8 Reefers ▲  Reefer loads: 402,839, up 16.5% week over week ▼  Reefer equipment: 63,891, down 5.6% —  Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, unchanged for the third straight week ▲  Load-to-truck ratio: 6.3, up from 5.1 Flatbeds ▲  Flatbed loads: 658,647, up 11.5% week over week ▼  Flatbed equipment: 41,888, down 7.2% ▲  Linehaul rate: $2.00 net fuel, up 1 cent ▲  Load-to-truck ratio: 15.7, up from 13.1. This is the sixth consecutive week of increases The ILA strike was short-lived but had an impact on spot load volume. “The 20 freight markets adjacent to ports affected by the ILA strike last week saw a 5% reduction in van load posts compared to the previous week, said Dean Croke, DAT industry analyst. “There was a 7% decrease in spot van loads posted in DAT’s Elizabeth, N.J., market and a 6% decrease in Savannah, Georgia.” Truck posts fell 16.3% to 275,594 as velocity in freight networks on the East Coast slowed dramatically due to bad weather and, to a lesser degree, the ILA strike. Hurricane Helene’s impact on spot truckload freight was regional and considerable. “Due to constrained capacity, the weekly average dry van linehaul rates increased by 4 cents to $1.65 a mile,” Croke said. “In DAT’s Southeast region, inbound and outbound rates increased by an average of 10 cents a mile compared to the previous week. In DAT’s Atlanta market, the average linehaul van rate was up 7 cents to $1.53 a mile despite a 3% decrease in load volume compared to the previous week. The average linehaul reefer rate in Atlanta increased by 10 cents to $2.13 a mile on a 7% decrease in volume.” Storm cleanup led to higher demand for flatbed capacity. According to Croke, the number of flatbed load posts was 23% higher year over year, and the weekly flatbed load-to-truck ratio was the highest in three years for Week 40. The number of flatbed load posts increased by 14% week over week in the Southeast Region and was up 68% week over week in DAT’s Tallahassee market, where Hurricane Helene made landfall. Flatbed load posts in Houston and New Orleans increased by 27% compared to the previous week. In Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia, outbound flatbed load volumes plunged by 40% week over week. Flatbed load volumes into the same states jumped by 44%, and the average spot linehaul rate rose 7% to $2.45 a mile. Freight markets in the path of Hurricane Helene saw outbound freight volumes drop 17% week over week while spot rates increased by 8 cents to $2.29 a mile. That’s 30 cents higher than the same week last year. Preparations for Hurricane Milton followed a familiar pattern.  With weather events like hurricanes, freight movements tend to follow a familiar pattern: Before the storm, shippers and FEMA rush to move freight in and out of the area where the storm is expected to make landfall, and truckload rates rise sharply. During the storm, nothing moves in or out of the affected area. FEMA and other organizations will move emergency relief supplies to locations just outside the storm zone so they’re ready to act as soon as roads are clear. After the storm, fuel and outbound loads may be scarce, travel can be treacherous, and regulations for hours of service may shift. Emergency supplies are brought in and inbound rates increase. Van and reefer freight move in first, followed by flatbeds hauling construction equipment and materials. Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama is the staging ground for much of the federal government’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 450 truckloads of supplies arrived during the week ahead of Helene, the bulk of which came from FEMA’s Atlanta distribution center. FEMA loads typically move under contract with approved carriers.    

DENTON, Texas —  Peterbilt is continuing its sponsorship of the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Trucking U program, an educational initiative designed to empower the next generation of leaders through a deep understanding of the trucking industry. “Trucking U is an important program in advancing the trucking industry and we are excited to continue our sponsorship for a second year,” said Jake Montero, assistant general manager, sales and marketing for Peterbilt. “As industry leaders, we see this as a key opportunity for student development, preparing the next generation for success in the commercial transportation industry.” According to a company media release, as the exclusive OEM sponsor for the second consecutive year, Peterbilt is dedicated to offering its industry knowledge and leadership, providing meaningful guidance to the 24 select students as they embark on this valuable opportunity in their academic and career paths. “Peterbilt’s sponsorship of Trucking U reflects the company’s fundamental belief in the importance of education and development, empowering and positioning students to contribute to the future of trucking,” the company said in the release. As part of Trucking U, students will attend the upcoming ATA Management Conference and Exhibition in Nashville, TN, October 12-15. Peterbilt will display its versatile lineup of conventional and electric vehicles, including the Model 579EV, Model 589 and the last built Model 389. Students will explore these models and learn how Peterbilt leverages technology and innovation. Trucking U students will also network with Peterbilt staff and gather insight about the importance of the trucking industry. For more information on Trucking U, visit https://www.trucking.org/TruckingU. To learn more about Peterbilt’s expansive truck portfolio, contact your local Peterbilt dealer or visit https://www.peterbilt.com/.

GREEN BAY, Wis.— As more consumers pack their grocery carts with fall staples like apples, changing consumer habits around meals and economic pressures are increasing the need for refrigerated shipping. According to a Schneider press release, consumer demand for refrigerated products has continually increased since 2020. “The maintenance and trend of at-home dining goes beyond simple cost-cutting,” said Tricia Greyshock, president and CEO of the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association. “Our research indicates that consumers are finding real value in preparing meals at home, with 61% reporting it allows them to eat healthier. The refrigerated foods industry continues to evolve with innovative products that combine convenience, nutrition and variety – we expect to see further expansion in refrigerated offerings that cater to the evolving wants and needs of home cooks.” According to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and its data platform Unify/IRI, refrigeration sales have increased by 32% over the past five years, and nearly 64% of adults say they save money or control their budget by eating at home. This has led to a rise in demand for meal prep services, ready to eat meals and grocery items overall. “As grocers and food providers are looking to increase shipments of refrigerated goods, Schneider National Inc, the premier multimodal provider of transportation, intermodal and logistics services, is one of the largest temperature-controlled carriers in the industry and has robust refrigerated freight capabilities tailored to meet the needs for customers across the industry,” the company said in the release. Refrigerated shipping requires a well-coordinated, highly trained team and best-in-class equipment to do the job successfully, according to Schneider. Timing, execution and on-time service are critical because there are many regulations when it comes to moving consumer-grade fresh foods. For example, the refrigerated trailers – also known as reefers – must maintain product-specific temperature requirements for the duration of the movement. One wrong step in the process could spoil the whole load. Schneider operates specialized trailers and tractors and utilizes high precision tools such as remote and real-time monitoring temperature sensors, status and maintenance data, visibility tracking and reporting metrics – ensuring optimized solutions and visibility every step of the way, the release noted. The company’s trailer technology and driver processes allow for constant monitoring while in transit to ensure temperatures stay consistent to keep customer products fresh when reaching the final destination. “Refrigerated transport is a unique capability a full-service provider like Schneider is able to offer within our larger Dedicated portfolio, providing custom-based solutions that match what our customers need when they need it,” said John Bozec, Schneider senior vice president and general manager of Truckload and Mexico. “We know the most important aspect of refrigerated transport is delivering ‘on time and on temp’ and our team of experts have built longstanding collaborative relationships with customers in the space by ensuring reliability, capacity and consistent best-in-class service.” According to the release, Schneider continues to grow its refrigerated service offering, particularly in the grocery vertical. For grocer customers, consistent collaboration is key. As part of the Dedicated portfolio, Schneider company drivers and support teams are assigned exclusively to refrigerated customers, providing value through embedded expertise. To further ensure a best-in-class customer experience, Schneider created a Center of Excellence that offers 24/7 support from a highly trained team of refrigerated freight experts. “Alongside service, sustainability is also an important consideration for refrigerated customers,” the company said. “Schneider is committed to building a sustainable future, operating one of the most efficient fleets in the country. Many of the efficiencies that the company identifies within route and network planning also translate to lower emissions, and new technologies and processes to cool trailers reduce fuel usage. The release also noted that with more than 30 years of experience moving temperature-controlled freight across North America, customers rely on Schneider to drive efficiency and growth, secure competitive market pricing and offer the latest technologies and processes to protect their loads. The company was most recently recognized as a 2024 Top Food Chain Provider from Food Shippers of America. To learn more about Schneider’s Dedicated business and refrigerated freight solutions, visit: https://schneider.com/freight-shipping-solutions/dedicated.

The national average of diesel price increased 4 cents to $3.584 per gallon, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data released on Monday. Prices were up for the third week in a row after 10 weeks of dropping prices. The East Coast, New England, Lower Atlantic and Central Atlantic areas saw prices dip. The Midwest saw the biggest rise with prices climbing 6.7 cents to $3.587 per gallon. Prices were also up in the Gulf Coast region with a reported 5.4 cent rise in diesel prices, bringing the cost per gallon to $3.266. Prices in the Rocky Mountain region were up to $3.620 a gallon. West Coast prices were up by 3.5 cents bringing the price per gallon to $4.261. West Coast less California prices also increased by 4.4 cents to $3.841 per gallon while California saw a rise of 2.3 cents at $4.742 per gallon.