Freight market
Freight volumes weaken despite resilient contract rates
· Source: Trucking Dive
Trucking Dive's October 8 coverage highlights weaker freight activity despite firmer contract pricing. The underlying U.S. Bank and DAT report shows why carriers should track shipment counts and truck utilization alongside rates.
Summary and practical context by RoadHouse Recruiting · Reviewed
What the report shows
The report's table lists August dry van contract linehaul at $2.39 per mile, versus $2.38 in July. Its recorded contract shipment volume was 740,249, versus 1,024,398 a year earlier—a decline of about 27.7%, calculated from the table. These are the report's observations, not a count of every U.S. shipment.
Use consistent comparisons
The PDF's narrative and table contain inconsistent month-over-month volume figures. This summary therefore uses only the clearly labeled table for the annual comparison, not the conflicting monthly percentages. The rate is linehaul excluding fuel; it is freight revenue, not driver pay.
Practical takeaway
RoadHouse perspective: evaluate paid miles, repeat load availability, empty repositioning, and waiting time together. A higher quoted rate can still produce a weaker week if the truck runs less. Brokers should verify actual lane capacity rather than treating national pricing as a demand forecast.
Understanding the update
This is market research and reporting, not a regulatory change or guaranteed lane rate.
What it means for drivers and carriers
Track shipment consistency and total truck utilization—not just the rate per loaded mile.
Questions to consider
- How consistently is this lane producing loads?
- What are the empty miles and unpaid hours?
Read the original reporting
This page provides an original summary and practical commentary. The linked source contains the full reporting. Older stories reflect information available on their published dates.
Read the source at Trucking Dive ↗ (opens in a new tab)