Topic: Rates and Pricing

The firm said that spot load posts for the week were up 10.8% sequentially, coming in at 2.25 million, which helped to counter declines seen in previous weeks, as well as signaling high seasonality with retail goods and produce on the move.

Quarterly consolidated revenue, at $21.5 billion, fell 0.7% annually, and adjusted earnings per share, at $1.49 (topping Wall Street estimates of $1.41), rose $0.06 annually. Consolidated operating profit, at $1.7 billion, increased 3.3% annually. 

For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading headed up to -0.21, marking an improvement over January’s -2.56 reading.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently spoke with Doug Waggoner, CEO of Chicago-based Echo Global Logistics about various topics, including: the state of the freight economy, tariffs and the trade war, trucking capacity, and AI, among others.

Flatbed activity spikes amid seasonal trends, while tariffs and supply chain anxiety cloud outlook.

Commerce reported that March retail sales, at $734.9 billion, increased 1.4% over February and 4.6% annually. NRF reported that March’s retail sales which are based on Census data and exclude automobile dealers, gas stations, and restaurants, increased 0.6% seasonally-adjusted, from February to March, and were up 5.07% on an unadjusted basis annually.

The second quarter edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, highlighted how various freight transportation modes are dealing with various issues, including tariff-related actions and an anticipated downward shift in consumer confidence, which could potentially impact prospects for a freight market recovery.

In a social media message posted earlier today, President Trump said that the U.S. has changed course, in terms of the scope and timing of its tariff implementations.

With a March 21 deadline rapidly approaching, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) penned a letter to the United States Department of Transportation, stating their continued support regarding the discontinuation of New York City’s congestion pricing plan.

Following a pointed letter from United States Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul earlier this month, regarding New York City’s congestion pricing plan, the fate of the plan remains in limbo, with a potential March 21 expiration date.

The plan, which was rolled out by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, went into effect on January 5, in the form of a $9 toll for vehicles heading into Manhattan below 60th Street and also during peak hours. The objectives of the plan, as outlined by the Governor’s office, focus on cutting down on traffic congestion and pollution, while also bringing in revenue for public transportation improvements, too.

The first quarter edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, highlighted how various freight transportation modes are handling various factors, including low demand, overcapacity, and pricing.

Shippers and less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are preparing for major changes in ratings of their freight shipments beginning in March that can be summarized in three letters, KYC, or Know Your Classification.

Combined on-time performance (OTP) for all domestic parcel services for the three carriers using end-of-day delivery, for express and an extra day, hit high levels, respectively, with FedEx at 98.7%, UPS at 98.9%, and the USPS at 98.7%, reported ShipMatrix.

As of January 1, USPS said it will no longer offer discounted rates through negotiated service agreements (NSA) for packages entered by consolidators at Post Office delivery units.

Phil Murphy says the toll unfairly burdens New Jersey commuters and vows to continue legal action to block the plan.

The new edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, was somewhat mixed, with what it called unprecedented parcel pricing, as well as more established trends for truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) rates.

The van TVI, at 289, was up 2.8% over July and up 6.3% annually,and the refrigerated TVI, at 220, was up 4.3% compared to July and up 17.6% annually; The flatbed TVI, at 287, was up 0.3% compared to July and down 0.3% annually, snapping a three-month stretch of sequential declines;

For July, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading, at -5.59, was off from June’s -0.95 and May’s positive 2.24.

Discounted registration is only available until September 6 for Chicago supply chain conference