Last month we spoke on the rate per mile carriers seek to maximize utilization of their fleets with the end goal to keep the wheels moving in their operations. This month, we will explore challenging rate conditions and how execution strategy with alignment to the right asset and non-asset partners can pull your supply chain service to a new level. Identifying available truck capacity has been challenging the past four weeks as major shippers buy capacity through their core asset providers and deploy aggressive efforts to secure market capacity through their non-asset providers.
As we can see within the Rockfarm opportunity index to the right, the load’s available index has steadily increased from its low point in April 2020 to its high mark prior to the holidays. Q1 has maintained the holiday surge in volume and, by all accounts, will finish the quarter strong. As Q1 rolls to an end, orders must be shipped and cleared from already congested distribution centers. Due to capacity tightening, carrier commitments should be confirmed to ensure the committed volume of trucks will be there at the time of tendering. 
In addition to asset partners, shippers are looking toward their non-asset partners (brokers) to identify viable solutions that secure the capacity required to meet their customer requirements. In times of tight capacity, the last thing you want is your brokers fighting over the same truck availability, inadvertently inflating the market rate within the available capacity. Smaller carriers in the 1 to 5 truck fleets are very keen on the rate indexes and know movement within the load postings illustrates a shipper needing capacity. Multiple postings of the same loads are a great indicator that the market rate will keep going up, giving small fleets an opportunity to increase their rate per mile cost to the truck brokers.
There are strategies that can be deployed to secure the additional capacity required, while still keeping your freight expense in check. Transparency with your brokers can extend your internal logistics team and tap into the small fleet market comprising 55% of the total truck count in the U.S. Transparency requires a pricing framework, rules of engagement and accountability.
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Brad’s journey into logistics began as a Marine Officer and transitioned from the LTL docks to the non-asset side within the logistics service provider arena. As a co-founder of Rockfarm, Brad drives our business development efforts and delivery of our promise. An Arizona native, Brad enjoys spending time outdoors in his home state with his wife and family.
“Our approach to the market allowed us an opportunity to push forward in 2008 and enable our mission, “lower the cost to serve” to stand as a cornerstone to our company today.”
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Statista, (2019). Number of person obtaining legal permanent resident status in the United States in 2019 https://www.statista.com/statistics/200037/main-countries-of-lastresidence-for-us-green-card-recipients/
James Jaillet, (2021 January). Trucking regs in the fold in 2021: Carrier’s insurance minimums, driver classification, speed limiters and more https://www.ccjdigital.com/regulations/article/14940233/truckingregulations-to-watch-for-in-2021
Jennifer Cheeseman Day and Adrew W. Hait, (2019 June). Number of Truckers at All-Time High https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/06/america-keeps-ontrucking.html
