Welcome to your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for owner operators and carriers. In this and every edition of our free forecast, you’ll discover where demand and rates are likely to be highest and lowest over the next five to seven days. This week the Dodge City, Kan., reefer market is projected to be…
If you drove by the National Mall in Washington D.C. recently, you might have noticed dozens of big rigs parked on the mall and a crowd of people gathered. Truckers recently gathered there for an event called Ten Four D.C. The annual event is meant to educate the public about trucking, build camaraderie among truckers and provide truckers with the…
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and welcome to your Wednesday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” This free freight forecast uses real-world data from Trucker Tools’ platforms to predict where demand for trucks will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven day period. With these insights, you can make better decisions on loads by avoiding markets where demand…
When your business is self-sustaining, it generates enough revenue to cover all of its expenses, and also does not need outside additional investments in order to expand. Self-sustaining businesses are lean and efficient, capable of maximizing revenue without diminishing the customer experience. In freight brokerage and third-party logistics, the shortest path to making your business self-sustaining usually requires the use…
Welcome to the Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for owner operators and carriers. Our three-times-a-week market report tells you where demand (and rates) are likely to be highest and lowest in North America in the coming week. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” our Top Five Hottest Markets list is dominated by power…
Happy Friday, truckers and carriers, and welcome to this end-of-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” This and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?” provides you with information on where demand for truck capacity will be highest, lowest, increasing and decreasing in the coming week. With this information, you can avoid taking loads into markets where demand (and rates)…
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and welcome to the mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” For this and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” we analyze the truck and load data from our software platforms to determine where and when demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next week. Today’s freight forecast is showing that demand for…
If you’re a trucker, you already know that driving long hours without moving can lead to muscle and joint stiffness, back pain, hip tightness, sciatica, knee pain, neck tension and other types of physical pain. Staying in a seated position for long periods of time reduces circulation, can shorten muscles, weakens your core muscles and may promote the production of…
Welcome to your Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report for carriers and owner operators. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that flatbed markets are heating back up, as three of the five spots in our Top Five Hottest Markets list today are flatbed markets. This week, you can expect high demand for…
In this new blog series, we’re introducing you to the folks working behind the scenes at Trucker Tools. For our first blog in this series, we interviewed Beheshta(Bebe) Bakhshi, who’s been with Trucker Tools since 2018. Bebe is one of the many glue people that keeps Trucker Tools going. She is an executive assistant to the CEO of Trucker Tools,…
Happy Friday y’all, and welcome to your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for owner operators and carriers. In this and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll find out where demand for capacity will be high and low over the next five to seven days in freight markets across the United States and Canada. …
Trucker Tools will join third party logistics innovators and thought-leaders from across the industry Oct. 20-22, 2021, for the Transportation Intermediaries Association’s 3PLXTEND Xperience. The conference, formerly known as 3PL Technovations, will be held in San Antonio at the JW Marriott Resort and will provide freight brokers and logistics providers with the opportunity to learn about new and evolving technologies. …
Happy Wednesday and welcome to your midweek edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” In this and every edition of Trucker Tools’ free forecast, you’ll discover where demand for capacity and rates will be high and low over the next five to seven days. Based on the latest data from Trucker Tools’ platforms, we’re forecasting that the Texarkana, Texas, flatbed…
The freight markets today are more capacity constrained than ever. At the same time, transformative technology is rewiring the landscape and changing virtually every aspect of how brokers engage with, conduct business, and support their truckload carriers. The main areas where technology is transforming processes are freight matching, load booking, and tracking. This episode of Talking Logistics with Geoff Turner,…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a free freight forecast that tells you where demand (and rates) are likely to be high and low in the coming week. In today’s edition of our free market report, you’ll notice that the Pendleton, Ore., power only market claims the top spot in our Top Five Hottest Markets…
Trucker Tools’ comprehensive digital software platform contains all the technology-based tools you need to create a self-sustaining logistics business for today and the future. From real-time load tracking and automated load booking to carrier management and digital freight matching, our platform can be used to manage nearly every facet of your operations, while providing benefits to your carrier and shipper…
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about depression and suicide, and to have honest conversations about both. Though it’s not often talked about, the transportation industry has the fourth-highest suicide rate among working-age adults. Time away from home, isolation, stress, inadequate sleep, post-traumatic stress disorder, poor diet and other factors all can contribute to…
Five Ways Trucker Tools’ Customer Support Team Can Help You Grow and Build a More Efficient Business
All of us at Trucker Tools recognize that our success as a company depends on the success of our customers. It’s why our robust support services center on seeing your freight brokerage or logistics company succeed and grow not just in the near-term, but for the foreseeable future. At Trucker Tools, we see ourselves as your partner, not just a…
All of us here at Trucker Tools are excited to announce that we’ve released a new version of our free software platform for carriers! This new version of our carrier platform for dispatchers contains all the functionality of the previous version, but with some new features and a brand new, easy-to-navigate design. You can use Trucker Tools’ free carrier platform…
Welcome your Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report for truckers and carriers. In this and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll discover where demand for certain types of capacity will be high and low over the next five to seven-day period. With this information in hand, you can maximize your profits by targeting loads…
Happy Friday, all! Welcome to the Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for truckers and carriers. In this three-times-a-week market report, you’ll find out where demand for reefer, dry van, flatbed and power only capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven days. In the coming week, you can expect reefer…
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all hoped that the lockdowns, masks, shortages and outbreaks would cease and that the world would soon go back to relative “normal.” A year and a half later, it seems that the pandemic isn’t going anywhere — and it continues to impact all of us personally and professionally in some way…
Throughout this month, we’ve interviewed a bunch of different folks about trucker mental health. We spoke with Brian Brase, an owner operator based out of Lancaster, Pa., about what he does to keep his mood positive when running LTL freight to California each week. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Kirleen Neely, a licensed professional counselor who…
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and welcome to your mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for truckers and carriers. The projections that you see in each and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?” are based on real-world data from Trucker Tools’ app and broker software platform. Through analysis of these transactions, we can predict with accuracy where…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” This three-times-a-week free freight forecast provides you with information on where demand and rates are likely to be highest and lowest across North America over the next five to seven days. You’ll see lots of familiar names in today’s Top Five Hottest Markets list, with the Texarkana, Texas, flatbed…
We love talking to truckers from all over the country and sharing their stories with you. This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Brian Brase, an Army veteran and owner operator who co-founded Ten Four D.C., a trucker appreciation group that gathers on the National Mall in Washington D.C. every October 4th. Brian shared with us that he…
Happy Friday, y’all! Welcome to your Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” a free, three-times-a-week freight forecast from Trucker Tools for truckers and carriers. In this and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll find out where demand for truck capacity will be highest, lowest, rising and falling in the coming week. Today’s freight forecast shows that demand for reefer…
The United States’ freight brokerage market size was valued at $1.1 billion in 2020 and is projected to hit $13.8 billion by 2028. Most industry experts agree that two factors are driving this growth: an increase in the number of licensed brokers and real-time technology. To remain competitive in an increasingly competitive freight brokerage market, you must be able to…
The last year and a half has been filled with ups and downs for many in the trucking industry. Truckers have been and continue to be on the front lines, making sure people across the country get the food and supplies they need. As a trucker, you’re dealing with longer wait times and fewer amenities at shipper and receiver facilities…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your source for discovering where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven day period. With this information in hand, you can make better business decisions on loads, targeting loads that take you into areas where good-paying loads and backhauls are likely to…
As a business owner, there is nothing better than implementing a technology-based solution and getting a high return on your investment (ROI). When technology is well-designed, it can help you increase productivity, profit margins and customer satisfaction. It also can simplify employee workflows and equip you with the technological infrastructure required for future growth. At the same time, there is…
Yesterday Modern Shipper reported that peak season parcel demand is likely to exceed available capacity by 4.7 million daily shipments. In a recent panel discussion of the current capacity shortage, Logistics Management’s Contributing Editor John Schulz said that the writing is on the proverbial wall when it comes to carriers and capacity. “It’s a carriers’ market and they’re being very…
Welcome to your Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” a free freight forecast from Trucker Tools that provides information on where demand and rates are likely to be highest and lowest over the next five to seven day period. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that once again Texarkana, Texas, claims two spots in our Top Five…
This blog is part three of a three-part series on how to use Trucker Tools’ real-time technology to solve the efficiency problems you face in your business. In this blog, we examine how Trucker Tools’ Book-It-Now automates the load/truck booking process and increases productivity, while providing a better experience to carriers and drivers. When used in conjunction with Trucker Tools’…
Happy Friday, truckers and carriers, and welcome to your Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report that helps you maximize your profits by forecasting where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest in the coming week. In this end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that once again, Texarkana, Texas, claims two spots in…
We are happy to announce that Trucker Tools will be sponsoring two charity events during the month of September that aim to lift up and help the people in our local communities who are most in need of assistance. Trucker Tools is a Diamond-Level Sponsor of Choptank Transport Community Foundation’s Third Annual 10 Better Than Par Heroes Edition Charity Event.…
Happy Wednesday, everyone. Welcome to your mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ three-times-a-week free market report for owner operators and carriers. In each and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll discover where demand for capacity and rates are likely to be highest and lowest in the next five to seven day period. In the coming week, we’re…
Did you know that 80 to 90 percent of freight is uninsured or underinsured? It’s true and in 2020, there were over 1,500 incidents of cargo theft that cost the trucking industry an estimated $250 million. With peak shipping season just underway, it’s a good time to be thinking about the steps that you can take as an owner operator…
Welcome to a special Tuesday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast that projects where demand for capacity and rates is likely to be highest and lowest in the coming week. More than a week has passed since Hurricane Ida hit the Gulf Coast and the Eastern United States. The flooding and damage caused by the storm…
There is a reason why digital freight matching technology use has risen considerably among freight brokers and logistics companies over the last year. Digital freight matching is one of the most impactful technologies that you can use in your freight broker or 3PL. With digital freight matching, you can locate and secure both in-network and out-of-network faster, which helps you…
Happy Friday, all. It’s time for your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for owner operators and carriers that tells you where you can expect demand for capacity to be high and low in the coming week. Hurricane Ida, which made landfall on Sunday, has left a path of destruction in its wake from Louisiana…
Data silos can kill a business. When your software platforms don’t share data, employee workflows become complicated, your operating costs become inflated and you miss out on potential opportunities for growth. Trucker Tools partners with leading technology developers and vendors from across the transportation industry because we know that software integrations save you time, reduce your costs and provide you…
Trucker Tools will gather with logistics and freight brokerage professionals from across the transportation industry Sept. 12 through Sept. 14 in Dallas for McLeod Software’s 2021 User Conference. The annual event will be held at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center and will include educational sessions, training and exhibits for both logistics professionals and carriers. Trucker Tools’ Vice President…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a three-times-a-week free market report that tells you where demand and rates are likely to be high and low over the next five to seven day period. In this Wednesday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” the Edmonton, Alberta, reefer market claims the number 1 spot in our Top Five…
In this Trucker Tools blog series, Level Up Your Trucking Business, we’re providing you with tried and true ways to maximize your profit margins, operate more efficiently and create a solid foundation for your trucking business. With capacity shortages already at record-breaking levels, inventories low and continued congestion at ports, this peak shipping season likely will be an intense one…
Welcome to this Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your place for finding out where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next week. With this information, you can target loads that take you into markets where demand, rates and good-paying backhaul opportunities are likely to be high. In this final market report for the…
Happy Friday, everyone! Welcome to your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast that tells you where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven days. In the coming week, you can expect flatbed demand to remain high in two central U.S. markets, while demand for flatbed will be extremely…
At Trucker Tools, we’re all about helping our customers get results. We want you to leverage our real-time digital solutions to your full advantage and use our technology to make your business as efficient and profitable as possible, while making your employees’ jobs easier. That’s why we offer best-in-class support to the freight brokers and logistics companies who implement the…
Detention affects more than just your ETAs. According to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association’s 2020 Detention Time Survey, detention impacts hours of service, revenue and safety. The OOIDA detention survey also shows that detention time costs truckers up to $1.3 billion/year and carriers as much as $1.6 billion/year. It’s clear to most in the industry that detention is a significant…
There’s a lot of ground to cover in this mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report that tells you where demand and rates are likely to be highest and lowest this week. Today’s Top Five Hottest Markets list has Spokane, Wash., projected to be the highest demand/highest rate reefer market in North America in the coming…
In this blog series, Level Up Your Trucking Business, you get real-world advice and tips for building a strong, self-sustaining and profitable trucking business. With so many company drivers transitioning to owner operators over the last year, we thought it was a great time to talk about how to build an owner operator or small carrier business with a new…
In this blog series Trucker Tools Smart Solutions, we’re providing real-world advice on how you can overcome the greatest challenges you currently face in your freight broker/logistics business. If you’re still using check calls to track loads for your customers, your productivity is a lot lower than it needs to be. Trucker Tools’ digital load tracking can help you reduce…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a free market report for owner operators and carriers that projects where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven day period. Many freight forecasts look at previous years’ data to predict what will happen in freight markets. What makes “Where’s the Freight?”…
Every quarter for the last year and a half, we’ve brought together experts from across the logistics and transportation industries to get their insights on current market conditions and predictions on what’s to come. We recently reconvened our panel to discuss what’s happening in freight markets and to get our experts’ recommendations on what freight brokers and logistics providers like…
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your source for finding out where demand for flatbed, reefer, power only and dry van capacity will be high and low in the coming week. Over the next five to seven days, you can expect power only demand to increase in four different markets across…
In today’s high-demand, capacity constrained market carriers are rejecting sometimes as many as 8 in 10 loads offered. How can brokers stand out and win and secure the critical capacity their customers need? By being ultra-responsive, easy to do business with, and providing effective digital tools that help truckers save time and keep them rolling and generating revenue. Yet deciding…
In this blog series, Trucker Tools Smart Solutions, we’re helping freight brokers and logistics providers like you solve major operational challenges, increase productivity, boost profit margins and create a technological foundation for your business that will serve you well in the future. The biggest challenge right now, of course, is capacity. When capacity markets are tight as they are currently,…
Happy Wednesday, everyone, and welcome to your mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your go-to source for freight forecasts and valuable market insights. Lubbock, Texas, which appears in today’s Top Five Hottest Markets list, is projected to be a hotspot for flatbed in the coming week. It’s worth noting that Lubbock, Texas, hasn’t cracked our top five since…
Peak shipping season (August through Thanksgiving) is when consumer demand for back to school and holiday-related goods usually is at its highest. As a result, it’s also when demand for capacity usually is high, supply is often low and freight rates typically are on the rise. The 2020 peak shipping season was anything but normal. A record 3 billion parcels…
According to CargoNet, a theft prevention and recovery network, the number of cargo thefts and the costs associated with cargo theft have gone up considerably over the last year and a half. In the United States in 2020, theft of full truckloads increased by 25 percent and pilferage increased by 35 percent. In the first two quarters of 2021, those…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a three-times-a-week free freight forecast for carriers and owner operators like you. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” our Top Five Hottest Markets list is dominated by reefer and power only, as demand for flatbed capacity has cooled over the last six to eight weeks. This week, two…
Not all technology is created equally. Some technology solutions automate and digitize only a portion of your day-to-day activities, which means they only offer limited cost-savings, time-savings and efficiency gains. A true digital platform is a comprehensive one that automates and digitizes most if not all of the most repetitive manual activities in your day-to-day operations. A true digital platform…
Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to your end of week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free freight forecast for carriers and owner operators. You can use the information in this and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?” to prioritize loads into areas where demand is likely to be high or rising and avoid loads that take you into…
In this blog series entitled Trucker Tools Smart Solutions, we’re helping freight brokers and logistics providers like you find new ways to increase profit margins, grow your capacity networks and scale your business. It’s no secret that the current labor market is a tight one, which makes it difficult for you to find high-quality candidates. One of the advantages of…
Real-time, digital visibility has become a core service for freight brokers and 3PLs like you. When you can provide real-time load tracking data to shippers, they can better manage their staffing and other resources, identify high-performing partners and gain business intelligence that helps them improve their supply chains. Most importantly, real-time visibility empowers shippers to better serve their customers and…
What makes Trucker Tools’ free market report “Where’s the Freight?” different from other market reports and predictions is that our forecasts aren’t based on previous years’ data. Instead, we use the most current load and truck data from our platforms to predict with high accuracy where demand for trucks will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven…
In this blog series entitled Level Up Your Trucking Business, Trucker Tools is providing you with tips to help you maximize your revenue, build fruitful relationships with brokers and 3PLs, and create a foundation for a successful trucking business. We recently spoke with Barry Fowler, president and founder of Trucker Tax Tools, who’s been helping truckers and carriers with federal income…
Software integrations offer increased productivity, the ability to provide better service to shippers and more opportunities to secure capacity faster. Trucker Tools new integration partnership with Amous International puts all the information that operations teams need in one interface, thereby empowering them to make better decisions faster. With the full stack integration between the Amous transportation management system and Trucker…
Trucker Tools’ CEO and Founder Prasad Gollapalli recently participated in TIA’s semi-weekly Virtual Lunch & Learn to discuss “How To Build a Better Brokerage and Scale Profitability in the Process.” In the webinar, Gollapalli was joined by Leonard Express’ Chief Marketing Officer Mike Riccio to talk about implementing new technology and how brokers can build a better brokerage with technology,…
Welcome to your Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report for owner operators and carriers. More than 165,000 carriers, 1.4 million truckers and hundreds of brokers and 3PLs use Trucker Tools’ platforms. Based on the loads posted and movement of trucks across these platforms, we can predict with accuracy where truck demand (and rates) will be…
GPS-based asset tracking has become a must-have for carriers and asset-based brokers/3PLs. It’s easy to see why. In the United States alone, an estimated $30 billion in cargo is stolen every year. The most coveted cargo includes pharmaceuticals, clothing, consumer electronics and food. GPS-based asset trackers play a pivotal role in helping carriers and asset-based brokers locate and recover trailers…
Happy Friday, and welcome to your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?” from Trucker Tools. “Where’s the Freight” is a free, three-times-a-week market report that uses real-world data to predict where demand for capacity will be high, low, increasing and decreasing over the next five to seven days. In this Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that four…
Digital freight matching and load booking automation tools like Trucker Tools’ Book It Now® are changing how brokers and 3PLs do business. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact. The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated just how important both technologies are and will continue to be in the future. Both technologies provide you with the opportunity to scale your business, i.e. grow…
One of the most powerful tools available to brokers and 3PLs like you is digital freight matching technology. Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching platform helps you build carrier networks and increase carrier loyalty as part of your long-term strategy. With Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching and companion driver app, you can offer convenience and efficiency to your current in-network carriers,…
In this and every edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” we reveal where demand for truck capacity is likely to be high, low, increasing and decreasing over the next five to seven days. With this information, you can make better decisions on loads and maximize your profits by avoiding loads that take you into areas where demand will be…
Having options is a good thing. That’s why we’ve made it so you can track loads for a broker with both the Trucker Tools app and with an ELD. Trucker Tools has partnered with 30+ of the most popular ELD providers to make your life easier as an owner operator and, if you’re a carrier, to give your drivers another…
Welcome to this Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” packed with information on where demand for capacity will be high and low over the next week. Today’s forecast shows high demand for both flatbed and reefer capacity in one Texas market over the next week. In the coming week, you can expect San Diego to remain a profitable…
When freight volume surges and available capacity can’t match volume, it can be very difficult to grow your freight broker or logistics business — unless you harness the power of technology like Trucker Tools’. With freight volumes at all-time highs and many drivers getting their own MC numbers to take advantage of spot market rates, we’re in exactly that situation…
As a freight broker business or third-party logistics provider, you’re the “middleman” between shippers and carriers. You really have two customers in shippers and carriers. You’re simultaneously working to find trucks to move your shippers loads, while trying to cultivate good working relationships with carriers and owner operators to move those loads today and in the future. It’s no secret…
It’s March, which means produce season is kicking off in southern Florida and Texas. At the same time, produce imports are flowing into the country across the border from Mexico right now and reefer capacity continues to be in high demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a reefer driver. Trucker Tools…
There are lots of things that can chew up your time and negatively impact your profit margins as an owner operator. Looking for parking, weigh scales, loads, truck stops and rest areas takes time. So does communicating with brokers by phone, dropping off paperwork, booking loads and reloads, route-planning and calculating your axle weights. Having the information you need instantly…
Happy Friday and welcome to your Friday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a three-times-a-week market report that tells you where demand/rates will be highest and lowest in the coming week. In today’s “Where’s the Freight?,” one reefer market north of the border claims the top spot in our projected Top Five Hottest Markets list, while two Midwestern markets…
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve surveyed company drivers, owner operators and carriers like you to find out what’s been working well and what’s been most challenging about working in trucking in the middle of a global pandemic. We first asked you about how COVID-19 is impacting you in an April 2020 survey and then again in an October 2020 survey.…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report that predicts which markets will be the most and least profitable in the coming week. With this information, you can make better decisions on loads and maximize your profit margins as an owner operator or carrier. In this Wednesday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Texarkana, Texas,…
Trucker Tools recently interviewed Johnny McCord, CEO of Loadsure, to discuss how the partnership between Loadsure and Trucker Tools benefits you as a broker, how to add Loadsure insurance to your loads on the Trucker Tools platform, and the advantages Loadsure offers to brokers and 3PLs. Our partnership with Loadsure helps you reduce your risk of financial loss in the…
We love talking to truckers like you from all over the country to learn about your tips and tricks for staying happy, healthy, safe and profitable on the road. Throughout the year, we interview dozens of company drivers, owner operators and carriers to understand what’s working for you and what’s not, and about how you deal with life on the…
In this Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report for owner operators and carriers, you’ll discover where demand and rates are likely to be high and low this week. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” two Texas locations once again snag spots in our Top Five Hottest Markets list, while demand is projected to heat…
In this blog series Trucker Tools Smart Solutions, we’re helping you solve some of the greatest challenges that you currently face in your brokerage or 3PL business. The biggest problem for most brokers and 3PLs at the moment is capacity: where to find it, how to get it before your competitors and where you’ll get more. The current challenge is…
Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to your Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ three-times-a-week free market report for owner operators and carriers. “Where’s the Freight?” tells you where demand and rates are likely to be high, low, increasing and decreasing in the coming week. In today’s market report, you’ll notice that two Texas markets appear in our Top…
Adrian Gonzalez of Talking Logistics recently sat down with BlueGrace Logistics’ Chief Operating Officer Mark Ford and Trucker Tools’ Founder and CEO Prasad Gollapalli to talk about how relationships continue to be the driving force behind success in the logistics industry. The webinar included an in-depth discussion of how relationships between brokers/3PLs, tech vendors, carriers and shippers have changed over…
Level Up Your Trucking Business: Five Things To Consider When Transitioning to Owner Operator Status
As the recovery from the initial COVID-19 outbreak has progressed, owner operator income has spiked, which is, in part, why so many truckers are making the move from company driver to owner operator. In 2020, the FMCSA granted common authority to approximately 58,0000 asset-based motor carriers, a 36 percent increase over 2019. If you’re in that camp and currently are…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” a free market report from Trucker Tools that helps you maximize your profits by telling you where demand for capacity will be high and low in the coming week. The information that you see in each and every edition of “Where’s the Freight?” is based on real-world data from Trucker Tools’…
As a broker or 3PL, you know that losing loads to theft, pilferage, accidents or extreme weather unfortunately can be part of doing business. If you’re a small or medium-sized broker, traditional cargo insurance may be prohibitively expensive or lack the coverage you need on specific shipments. Trucker Tools has partnered with Loadsure to provide businesses like yours with per…
Trucker Tools’ integration partnership with McLeod Software is a powerful one, offering you the opportunity to elevate the productivity and profitability of your business. McLeod Software’s PowerBroker transportation management system is an all in one freight brokerage operations management system and complete accounting software designed to help you manage carrier history, capacity and market pricing in one place. Trucker Tools’…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your go-to source for information on where demand for capacity will be high and low in the coming week. In today’s “Where’s the Freight?,” one Southern market known as a major manufacturing and distribution center snags two spots in our Top Five Hottest Markets list, while Fort Wayne, Ind.,…
Successful technology adoption is increasingly more dependent on relationship building, communication between truckers and 3PLs. Though as technology automates more work, the value of developing and building relationships, maintaining that personal touch, has never been more important. At the end of the day technology is a tool whose value is gained only when users fully engage and evolve with it,…
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Independent truckers and small trucking companies make up the majority of U.S. freight carriers, with 91 percent of fleets operating six or fewer trucks and 97 percent operating 20 or fewer, according to the American Trucking Association.” The most recent statistics from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association estimates that more 500,000 carriers…
Friday is here! And so is your end-of-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” a free market report from Trucker Tools that tells you where demand for capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven day period. In today’s Top Five Hottest Markets list, you’ll notice that the Stockton, Calif., power only market snags the number two…
Trucker Tools and FreightWaves recently hosted a Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit, a virtual event that featured live interviews, demonstrations and presentations designed to help small carriers and owner operators like you succeed in the trucking industry. Highlights from the event included an interview with owner operator Larry Cothran, a live radio broadcast of the Road Dog Trucking Radio show,…
It’s no secret that freight markets across the country currently favor owner operators and carriers, but if you’ve been in the industry any length of time, you know that may not last forever. “Trucking is a roller coaster,” says Gerald Johnson, aka Trucker G, who has been working in trucking for the last 30 years. “It always has been and…
Welcome to the mid-week edition of “Where the Freight?,” a free market report from Trucker Tools that tells you where demand for truck capacity will be high, low, increasing and decreasing in the coming week. With this information in hand, you can make informed decisions on loads and target loads that take you into areas where demand for capacity is…
Earlier this month, Trucker Tools and FreightWaves co-hosted the 2021 Small Fleet & Owner Operator Summit. This virtual event included interviews with truckers and carrier owners, presentations on new technology, virtual booths and demonstrations. As part of the summit, Trucker Tools’ VP of Partnerships & Strategic Alliances Matt Silver interviewed Larry Cothran, a 13-year veteran of the trucking industry and…
Happy Friday! In this end of the week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where the Freight?,” you’ll discover where demand/rates are projected to be highest, lowest, rising and falling in the next week. With the July 4th Independence Day holiday on Sunday, demand for trucks is expected to remain high this week, particularly for reefer and power only capacity. In today’s…
When we say, “truck driving rock star,” we’re not talking about how to do your best air guitar behind the wheel or hitting those high notes singing in the shower. This blog is all about how you can have a long, successful career as a trucker. (Apologies if we’ve crushed anyone’s rock star dreams!) We talk to lots of truckers…
At Trucker Tools, we understand how valuable time is in your freight brokerage and logistics operations, which is why our software solutions can be integrated with some of the most popular transportation management systems in use today. Trucker Tools’ integration partnership with MercuryGate offers users of MercuryGate’s transportation management system the ability to view data from Trucker Tools’ real-time freight…
Welcome to the mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where the Freight?,” your source for info on where demand and rates are likely to be high and low over the next five to seven days. With the July 4th U.S. Independence Day holiday upcoming, it should come as no surprise that a Southwestern reefer market is projected to be the top…
It used to be that the latest technology was only accessible for large brokers with huge budgets, but times have changed. Today’s digital technology is built to be used by freight brokers and logistics companies big and small. True digital platforms like those developed by Trucker Tools can help you improve productivity, grow your business without increasing your headcount and…
Technology has become a game changer for the trucking industry. The growth of app-based technology has removed many of the barriers that used to prevent people from making the transition from company driver to owner operator. It used to be that you needed to have an accountant, a dispatcher and an office staff to run even a one-truck operation. Today,…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed owner operators, carriers and company drivers from across the nation about the technology they use in their day-to-day work. We asked for their thoughts on load tracking technology and about how they use technology to find loads. The survey also included questions about how technology impacts their relationships with brokers and 3PLs, and about what they…
Welcome to your Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where the Freight?,” where you can find out what to expect from freight markets across North America over the next five to seven day period. The upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend will be driving demand for reefer capacity in two key border cities this week, while one Midwest city’s power only market…
All of us Trucker Tools know that the needs of truckers and carriers like you change and evolve. That’s why we survey you each and every month. We want to know what’s working, what’s not and what you need when you’re on the road. We recently surveyed truckers and carriers like yourself about technology. We asked you about everything from…
Happy Friday and welcome to this end-of-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your go-to source for finding out where truck demand and rates will be highest and lowest over the next week. In today’s “Where’s the Freight?,” power only and flatbed dominate our Top Five Hottest Markets, while one Midwestern reefer market is projected to see a major…
We love talking to folks in the trucking industry! We recently sat down with Jamie Hagen, owner of South Dakota-based Hell Bent Xpress, to learn more about his trucking company, his trucking career and his views on technology. Jamie has been working in the trucking industry for his entire adult life. His previous experience includes time as an owner operator…
Welcome to another edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a three times/week free market report that tells you where demand for trucks will be high and low in the coming week. In this Wednesday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” reefer makes a come-back, claiming three of the five spots in our Top Five Hottest Markets list. In the coming…
The passage of Jason’s Law and a greater awareness of the problems that lack of safe truck parking creates have led some states to roll out new initiatives for providing truckers with real-time truck parking info. The use of truck parking available apps has increased recently in reaction to the ongoing shortage, as well. Last week the American Transportation Research…
As Kevin Hill of FreightWaves writes, “Technology is now the primary differentiator for freight brokerages. Luckily, for freight brokerage businesses of all sizes and budgets, technology continues to become more powerful and less expensive each year.” Using technology in your freight broker or 3PL operations isn’t just about keeping up with your competitors, however. Real-time, scalable technology offers you opportunities…
RESTON, VA & WALNUT CREEK, CA – June 22, 2021 – ASG, a portfolio company of Alpine Investors that buys and builds vertical SaaS companies, today announced that it has acquired Trucker Tools, the market leading digital freight management platform that provides capacity management, predictive freight matching, automated booking, real-time GPS-based visibility and digital workflow solutions for the transportation industry.…
Innovation can solve practical problems in your logistics business. It also can help strengthen customer relationships, attract top talent, increase employee engagement and increase revenue. The pandemic and its impact over the last year have pushed everyone in the transportation industry to be more innovative. As Connor D. Wolf of Transport Topics writes, “Supply chains and logistics operations have been…
As someone who works in or owns a freight broker or 3PL business, you no doubt have heard a lot about digital freight matching over the last year or two. Digital freight matching is a technology that is relatively new in the transportation industry that automates and streamlines how you locate and secure truck capacity. One of the ways in…
Last month, Trucker Tools surveyed truckers and carriers like you from across the country to find out more about the technology that you use in your day-to-day operations. More than 250 of you answered our survey, including carriers, owner operators and company drivers. We asked you about how you use technology when you’re on the road and about your attitudes…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed owner operators, company drivers and carriers like you from across the country to learn more about how you use technology in your day-to-day work. Truckers and carriers were kind enough to respond to our survey, sharing their experiences and thoughts around technology. Of those folks that answered our survey, 40 percent are carriers, 57 percent owner…
According to market research company IDC, inefficiency costs businesses 20 to 30 percent of their revenue each year. If you use manual tasks (i.e. check calls, manual truck searches, emails/phone calls to finalize truck bookings) in your business, you may be unnecessarily reducing your profits by up to 20 or 30 percent. Inefficiency within your operations also impacts your ability…
In this blog series Level Up Your Trucking Business, we’re providing building blocks to help you build an owner operator or carrier business that’s profitable, self-sustaining and efficient. Trucker Tools recently interviewed life-long trucker Jamie Hagan, who has been driving a truck and working in the industry for the last 23 years. We spoke with Jamie to learn more about…
According to a recent investigative report from FreightWaves, double-brokering scams have been reported across the nation, including in the Midwest, California, Florida, Oregon and Texas. Co-brokering is a legal practice that allows a freight broker or carrier to work with another broker or carrier to get a load moved. Fraudulent double-brokering is when someone is pretending to co-broker a real…
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, productivity increases have allowed the United States business sector to produce nine times more goods and services since 1947 with little increase in the number of hours worked. In your freight broker or 3PL business, increasing productivity offers you the same value proposition. Raising productivity offers you a chance to increase your volume…
Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching and Book It Now® offer freight brokers and logistics providers faster, more efficient ways to locate and secure trucks, which is especially important in a competitive capacity environment like the current one. These ground-breaking technologies offer a clear pathway to greater efficiency and cost reductions by simplifying employee workflows and increasing the speed with which…
Hayley Dobson, Trinity Logistics’ Group Vice President, recently spoke to Trucker Tools’ Founder and CEO Prasad Gollapalli about how the company is using Trucker Tools’ technology to simplify communications with carriers and provide them with a streamlined technology experience. The conversation, which was part of a webinar entitled “How Trinity Logistics Engages Carriers Through Technology To Build Its Network,” illustrates…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a free market report that tells you which markets will be the most and least profitable over the next five to seven day period. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll notice that dry van continues to dominate our Top Five Hottest Markets list, claiming four of the…
When trucks are in high demand like they are now, you need to be able to quickly locate loads and book them so you can get back on the road driving and making money. The truth is that using load boards and calling/emailing brokers to find out what they have available for loads takes time. You may have to respond…
Traditional freight brokerages are adopting powerful new technologies at an increasingly faster pace. Technology is the foundation for building better engagement and making your brokerage “stickier” with the carrier community in a capacity challenged market. This session explores how evolving technology is impacting brokers, and the key operational challenges that can be solved – and deliver rapid ROI – with…
Welcome to the Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your go-to source for info on where demand for specific types of capacity will be high and low in the coming week. As we head into the second full week of June, dry van continues to dominate, with dry van markets claiming all five spots in our today’s Top…
It’s Friday! That means a brand new edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your place for finding out where demand for capacity will be high and low over the next five to seven days. According to FTR, the total number of truck loads in the U.S. is projected to be up eight percent this year as a whole, with…
If you’re working in a freight broker or logistics company, you may have mixed feelings about technology. While technology can do things faster, you may worry that technology is going to work so well that it will put you out of a job. If you have that worry, you’re not alone. Everyone wants to protect their livelihood, but the truth…
In a recent webinar entitled How to Scale Up and Drive Brokerage Efficiency—and Build Better Driver Relationships, Surge Transportation’s Founder and President Omar Singh spoke about how Trucker Tools’ digital solutions are helping the company meet several major business objectives. With integrations between Trucker Tools’ digital freight matching platform, Book-It-Now® and the company’s McLeod Software transportation management system, Surge Transportation…
According to a report released yesterday, transportation capacity tightened even further during the month of May. While this doesn’t come as a huge surprise if you’re in trucking, it’s notable that the report predicts that tight capacity and higher rates are likely to continue for at least the next year. In this mid-week edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,”…
Since 1978, the Transportation Intermediaries Association has been providing resources, education and advocacy to third-party logistics companies of all sizes. Today TIA is made up of 1,600 member companies, most of which are small, family-owned businesses. Trucker Tools recently had the good fortune to host a webinar entitled “A Conversation with TIA’s Anne Reinke.” In the webinar, Reinke, who is…
Welcome to this Tuesday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” a free market report from Trucker Tools that tells you where demand for specific types of truck capacity will be highest and lowest over the next five to seven days. With this information, you can make better business decision on loads, avoiding loads where backhauls are projected to be low-paying and…
In this series of blog posts, Level Up Your Trucking Business, we’re providing you and other owner operators/small carriers with tips for creating a self-sustaining, profitable trucking business. The recent cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which provides the East Coast with 45 percent of its diesel, petrol and jet fuel, has increased fuel prices and caused shortages across the Southeast.…
Happy Friday and welcome to your Memorial Day weekend edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” your place to find out where demand for trucks will be high and low over the coming week. As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, demand for trucks, especially spot market dry van, remains high and isn’t expected to…
It’s undeniable that digital technology has forever changed the transportation industry. However, not all digital technologies deliver the same results. If you’re a freight broker or 3PL who wants to take your business to the next level, you have to make thoughtful technology choices to maximize ROI on your technology investments. That starts with implementing a true digital platform, not…
Join Trucker Tools and FreightWaves on June 9, 2021, for the Small Fleet & Owner Operator Summit! This virtual event for small fleets and owner operators will include presentations, demonstrations, virtual booths, and live interviews from the show. If you’re a new owner operator or carrier interested in building a solid foundation for your business, the 2021 Small Fleet &…
Spot market dry van rates were up last week with the biggest jump in pricing occurring in the Southeast, according to JOC. You’ll see that nation-wide rise in demand for dry van reflected in this mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report that tells you where demand for trucks will be highest and lowest over the…
When you think of using technology in your business with the goal of increasing operational efficiency, you have to think about how you can scale faster without incurring exponential expenses. If you’re a broker moving 1,000 loads/month today, how can you move 4,000 loads/month without hiring new employees and increasing your expenses? Well-designed, true digital platforms will reduce inefficiencies in…
The digital world has certainly changed the trucking industry. Mobile apps, process algorithms and machine learning technology have become part of our daily lives both at work and at home. This is in stark contrast to the Excel spreadsheets, white boards, loads boards and other manual tools that for many years were the only way to do business. Today, true…
In this Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” a three times/week free market report for truckers and carriers, we continue to see West Coast port congestion impact demand and rates. As of today, 21 container ships are anchored and waiting to enter the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and another 16 container ships are expected to…
It’s no secret that it’s hard for you to find parking as a trucker. According to research from the American Transportation Research Institute, the states where truck parking is hardest to come by are Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. The good news is that organizations such as the federally funded Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS) are now providing up-to-the-minute…
Happy Friday! Yesterday, the Marco Polo, an ocean carrier the length of three and a half football fields, docked in New Jersey. It’s the largest container ship ever to visit the East Coast and it will be docking at ports in Norfolk, Va., Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., in the coming week. It’s no surprise then that in today’s edition…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed broker and logistics providers about which technologies they use in their daily operations and what their biggest tech needs are. We heard from brokers and 3PLs of varying sizes. Forty percent of those who answered the survey book 500 loads or less each month, 30 percent book up to 5,000 loads/month and 20 percent book between…
When you can’t find a parking spot for your rig, it’s more than just a minor convenience. Lack of truck parking can cause you to violate HOS rules, park in unsafe locations, experience added stress and fatigue, and reduce your revenue. Despite this, state DOT offices recently reported that not many new public facilities or spaces are currently being developed.…
Welcome to your mid-week edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report that tells you where demand for trucks will be high and low in the coming week. First, the big picture: the national tender rejection rate is still at approximately 25 percent, which means most markets favor truckers and carriers, with carriers rejecting one out of every…
It’s always good to have more choices, which is why Trucker Tools has partnered up with leading Electronic Logging Device providers from across the transportation industry. Trucker Tools’ ELD integration partnerships allow truckers to use an ELD device to digitally track loads on Trucker Tools’ load tracking platform. If for some reason a trucker can’t use the Trucker Tools free…
It’s early in the North American produce season yet demand for reefer capacity is already extremely tight in many parts of the United States, particularly along the southern border. Produce truck rates are up by at least 70 percent compared with last year, which makes it a good time to be in refrigerated trucking. This year’s produce season isn’t without…
Welcome to the Monday edition of “Where’s the Freight?,” Trucker Tools’ free market report for trucker and carriers. Published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, “Where’s the Freight?” tells you where demand for specific types of trucks will be high and low, and where demand will be rising and falling over the next week. With hundreds of brokers/3PLs booking trucks on…
Last week, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association sent a letter to the U.S. DOT imploring the Biden administration to make truck parking a bigger priority in future federal funding and infrastructure plans. The reason why truck parking is such a big issue for truckers is certainly no secret: a 2019 parking study by the American Transportation Research Institute found that…
Happy Friday! If you’re looking for information on which freight markets will help you maximize your profit margins over the next week, you’ve come to the right place. Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” is a free market report that tells you where demand for specific types of trucks will be rising and falling in the next five to seven days.…
If you’re looking for guidance on how to make this year a successful one for your logistics business, you don’t want to miss FreightWaves LIVE @HOME virtual event, May 19-20. FreightWaves LIVE @HOME 2021 will focus on what the industry has learned from the last year, how to enhance the resiliency of your logistics business and where opportunities may appear…
Whether you’re a company driver on the hunt for good backhauls or an own operator targeting favorite lanes with preferred brokers, you don’t want to spend tons of time searching for and booking your loads. If it takes you an hour to search for, negotiate the rate on and finalize a load booking with a broker, that’s one less hour…
The U.S. transportation sector has hit its proverbial ceiling, according to a report released by FreightWaves over the weekend. That indicates that there likely will be no end in sight to high demand for trucks for at least the next year. As you look ahead to the coming week, it’s important to know which markets are likely to be the…
In a recent Trucker Tools survey, we asked company drivers, owner operators and carriers about the current challenges of truck parking, including short term, long term and overnight parking. Eighty-six percent of the nearly 200 truckers who responded to our survey told us that they struggle to find truck parking. Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed also told us that overnight…
You may think that you have to increase the number of staff members that you employ if you want to expand your customer base, diversify your business or increase load volume. But the truth is this: with the right technology, you can scale up your freight broker business without substantially increasing overhead. Technology that increases the efficiency with which you…
The U.S. transportation sector has hit its proverbial ceiling, according to a report released by FreightWaves over the weekend. That indicates that there likely will be no end in sight to high demand for trucks for at least the next year. As you look ahead to the coming week, it’s important to know which markets are likely to be the…
New orders for trucks and trailers continue to remain high — another reflection of the exceptionally high demand for truck capacity in North American freight markets. Class 8 orders in April of this year were 689 percent higher than in April 2020. It’s unclear at this time when truck and equipment manufacturers will be able to catch up with demand…
The benefits of increased productivity can’t be ignored. For starters, increasing productivity in your freight broker business often can expand your profit margins. Upping productivity also can help you increase the volume of business that you do without increasing overhead, which is what every business owner wants to do. Boosting productivity may have the added benefit of increasing commissions for…
According to a report published yesterday, the current transportation capacity environment is one of the tightest ever measured. In the truckload market, that means that carriers still are rejecting one out of every four loads under contract, even though van and reefer rejections have fallen slightly over the last week. For you, that means that demand for trucks isn’t likely…
In a recent webinar with Trucker Tools entitled “How Ryan Transportation Accelerated Access to Visibility Information,” Ryan Transportation’s Senior VP of Operations Jeff Henderson spoke about the company’s early adoption of Trucker Tools’ freight tracking platform and the benefits gained through the implementation. With Trucker Tools’ real-time visibility software, Ryan Transportation has increased operational efficiency, daily load volume and the…
Leaders in freight brokerage and logistics will gather together virtually May 11-13 for the Transportation Intermediaries Association’s 2021 Capital Ideas Conference. The conference will include educational sessions, networking events and the opportunity to see some of the most exciting technology available to the industry. Trucker Tools’ CEO and Founder Prasad Gollapalli will be a featured speaker in two different educational…
Jungle Scout’s first quarter 2021 Consumer Trends Report found that 58 percent of the consumers surveyed shop online at least once a week, if not more. Of those that shop on Amazon, 55 percent said they would pay more for faster shipping. These consumer trends reflect just how much pressure consumer spending and expectations are having on freight markets and…
Trucker Tools partners with technology leaders across the transportation industry to simplify how you do business, whether you’re a solo owner operator, company driver, fleet owner, small trucking company, or broker/logistics provider. Trucker Tools’ integration partnerships are all about helping you maximize your productivity and earn more revenue. Our newest integration partnership is with technology company Gorilla Safety, a leader…
On Tuesday of this week, FreightWaves reported that first quarter earnings for truckload carriers shows that growth for the entire year could be substantial. Some analysts are predicting that tight capacity, especially for reefer and flatbed, could continue well into 2022. In this Friday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” once again Texarkana, Texas, is projected to be the…
In a recent Trucker Tools webinar, Trucker Tools’ Founder & CEO Prasad Gollapalli spoke with Jeff Henderson, Senior VP of Operations for Ryan Transportation, about the benefits the company has gained from dramatically improved data quality and compliance success with Trucker Tools. In the webinar, entitled “How Ryan Transportation Accelerated Access to Visibility Information,” Henderson spoke about the visibility challenges…
What a year it’s been — between the pandemic, shutdowns and unpredictable supply and demand, it’s been a real roller coaster. Jovanic Bontemps, the owner of Long Island-based FR8UP Logistics, recently sat down with us to talk about what it’s been like to launch a new trucking business this year. As a newcomer to the industry, Jovanic shared with us…
According to a recent report from FreightWaves, the current shortage of container capacity, as well as port congestion and delays, will continue to have a major impact on supply chains for the foreseeable future. Most manufactured goods such as medicines, clothing and processed foods are shipped via container. In fact, a whopping 80 percent of consumable goods are shipped via…
The last 12 months have been anything but typical. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on freight and rates, including reefer demand and rates. Port congestion, winter storms, vaccine distribution, COVID-19 outbreaks and unpredictable consumer demand all have put pressure on freight markets. Demand for reefer capacity currently is sky-high and there’s no end in sight, as the…
If you’ve launched a new carrier business in the last year or you’re thinking of doing so, you’re not alone! In 2020, the FMCSA granted common authority to approximately 58,000 motor carriers, a 36 percent increase over the previous year. With this in mind, Trucker Tools recently interviewed two different trucking company owners, Shawn Stewart and Jovanic Bontemps, for their…
As you get back to work on this Monday, Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” has all the information you need to make this week a profitable one. “Where’s the Freight?” tells you where demand for specific types of trucks will be high and low, as well as where demand for trucks is expected to rise and fall in the coming…
If you’re a company driver and you’re thinking of becoming an owner operator to capitalize on current freight rates, you’re not alone. Many truckers start out as company drivers and, at least for some period of time during their careers, switch to running freight as owner operators. As most owner operators will tell you, being an owner op includes all…
With produce season kicking into high gear, vaccine distribution increasing and consumer demand high, it’s certainly a good time to be in the trucking industry! Freight volumes and demand for trucks remain elevated across much of the country. Federal COVID-19 stimulus programs, which have included expanded unemployment benefits and direct to consumer stimulus payments, and a manufacturing sector that continues…
According to a Gartner survey conducted in 2020 when disruptions to the supply chain were at their peak, 75 percent of organizations reported that their supply chains were disrupted, yet 44 percent of supply chain organizations reported having no strategy in place to deal with disruptions in the future. One of the big takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic and the…
Spring is here — finally! With spring comes one of the busiest times of the year for reefer drivers: produce season. The produce growing season in the continental United States typically starts in late March/ early April and ends in November. With produce season now in full swing in Florida and Texas, and fruits and vegetables coming across the border…
“Where’s the Freight?” is Trucker Tools’ three times/week market report that tells you in advance where demand for trucks will be highest and lowest over the coming week. You can use this valuable information when you’re deciding on which loads to accept or reject. “Where’s the Freight?” helps you maximize your revenue and avoid taking loads into areas where there…
In a recent webinar entitled “Where Are the Trucks?,” Trucker Tools’ CEO and founder Prasad Gollapalli moderated a panel discussion on what freight brokers and 3PLs can expect from the truck capacity market in the remaining months of 2021. The panel included FTR Transportation Intelligence’s VP of Trucking Avery Vise, JOC’s Senior Editor for Trucking and Domestic Transportation Bill Cassidy,…
So far, April is proving to be just as busy as the month of March was for truckers and carriers like you. Demand for flatbed and reefer capacity remains elevated, as evidenced in today’s Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” five hottest markets list, which is dominated by reefer and flatbed markets. In the coming week, you can expect demand for…
With the North American produce season just kicking off, we surveyed truckers and carriers like you to find out what you can do as a reefer driver to ensure that your produce loads run as smoothly as possible. Seventy percent of the truckers and carriers we surveyed said that moving produce can be challenging and that the biggest issue right…
In the current freight market, you can afford to be selective with which loads you take and which you pass on. Trucker Tools’ market report, “Where’s the Freight?,” is there with the assist to help you identify which markets are likely to be the most and least profitable for you in the coming week. The information contained in “Where’s the…
Real-time visibility: every shipper wants it, which is why it’s a service that you must be able to provide as a freight broker or logistics provider. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, online consumer demand, evolving supply chain best practices and COVID-19 vaccine distribution all have made real-time visibility more important than ever. Shippers require real-time, continuous location updates on their…
In Tuesday’s Midday Market Update, FreightWaves reported that at least one out of every four loads in the United States is being rejected by carriers, which is much higher than normal for this time of year. Tender rejection rates, which measure demand, haven’t been below 25 percent since February, reflecting red hot freight markets and tight capacity across most of…
In this Monday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” find out where demand and rates are likely to be high and low over the next week. With more than 1 million truckers using the Trucker Tools driver app, 145,000+ fleets on Trucker Tools’ free carrier software platform and the most popular brokers and 3PLs using Trucker Tools’ software platforms,…
High volumes of imported goods from China, record-breaking home construction and the rebounding manufacturing sector continue to fuel demand for flatbed truck capacity across North America. That’s why you’ll see in today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?” that four of the five hottest markets for truckers in the coming week will be flatbed markets. Over the next five to seven…
In this your Wednesday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?,” you’ll gain an advantage over your competitors with insights into which markets are likely to be hot and cold over the next five to seven day period. According to the most recent data from Trucker Tools’ software platforms, flatbed and reefer remain red hot, which is why you’ll see…
During the entire month of March, Trucker Tools is bringing you the stories of women from across the transportation industry, from company drivers and owner operators to executives and transportation entrepreneurs. We’re celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting women who are literally making history, paving the way for other women inside and outside the transportation industry. We recently spoke with…
In this Level Up Your Trucking Business blog series, we’re providing you with tips and best practices for running an owner operator business that is profitable and self-sustaining. We recently spoke with Barry Fowler, president and founder of Trucker Tax Tools, to learn more about some of the most common financial mistakes that owner operators make with bookkeeping, taxes and…
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and federal stimulus payments are contributing to elevated consumer demand for durable goods, including items such as home furnishings, clothing and electronics. On Saturday, FreightWaves reported that consumers spent 22 percent more on goods in January and 17 percent more on goods in February when compared with 2020. At the national level, demand for flatbed capacity…
The goal: secure capacity faster, reduce trucker downtime, cut costs, improve carrier engagement, and raise the service bar. GlobalTranz was among the industry’s first to recognize and act on the potential for digitizing the freight brokerage model. They’ve built leading-edge solutions, and engaged with strategic best of breed partners, to continually improve their technology offering – driving ongoing benefits to…
In a recent research report, 80 percent of the supply chain companies surveyed reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on their businesses. If you’re like most logistics and brokerage businesses, you’re trying to adapt to a new normal in which resiliency and the ability to anticipate and recover from market disruptions are mandatory. While many of…
It’s March, which means produce season is kicking off in southern Florida and Texas. At the same time, produce imports are flowing into the country across the border from Mexico right now and reefer capacity continues to be in high demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, it’s a good time to be a reefer driver. Trucker Tools…
In a recent webinar co-hosted by FreightWaves and Trucker Tools, Axle Logistics’ Vice President of Logistics Shawn McLeod spoke with Trucker Tools’ CEO and Founder Prasad Gollapalli about the company’s strategic approach to technology innovation and implementation. The webinar, entitled Ultimate Tips on Where To Start Your Technology Voyage, centered on the processes and tools that Axle Logistics uses to…
During the month of March, Trucker Tools is celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day by introducing you to women leading the way in the transportation industry. We’re interviewing female company drivers, owner operators, entrepreneurs, brokers, 3PL owners, executives and directors to learn more about their careers in transportation, their challenges and where they turn for support and inspiration.…
As an owner operator, you wear two hats: driver and small business owner. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face as driver and small business owner is balancing your expenses and your profit margins on loads. According to Indeed, the average gross pay for an independent owner operator is about $280,000 each year, which sounds like a great salary. Keep…
Happy Friday! As construction and manufacturing have gained steam across the country, so has the demand for flatbed capacity. Today’s edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” includes three different flatbed markets in our top five freight markets in North America list. You’ll also notice that for the first time in four months, there isn’t a reefer market in our…
In this blog series, Level Up Your Trucking Business, you can learn how to reduce your expenses, be more efficient and establish sound business practices now to help your owner operator business grow in the future. As an owner operator, your approach toward digital load tracking can have a significant impact on your relationships with brokers and logistics providers. In…
Trucker Tools’ partnerships with leading technology companies are focused on providing convenience, ease of use and reliability — for truckers, carriers, brokers and logistics companies. Our new partnership with EROAD does exactly that, offering you another option for digitally tracking freight with Trucker Tools. Trucker Tools’ partnership with EROAD allows you to view EROAD ELD location data in Trucker Tools’…
In this Wednesday edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” Winnipeg, Manitoba, is projected to be the most favorable reefer market for truckers and carriers over the next five to seven days. If you’re a regular reader of “Where’s the Freight?” this is notable because it’s the first time in nearly four months that the top reefer market in North…
Trucker Tools is interviewing women from across the transportation industry throughout the entire month of March to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. We’re celebrating female leaders in transportation, from owner operators, company drivers and social media influencers to executives and freight brokerage owners. We recently spoke with Rhonda Bompensa-Zimmerman, Director of Fitness and Wellness for GlobalTranz, to…
Just when you thought spring was here, winter continues to hang around. Several snowstorms are expected to drop up to 36 inches of snow across the Northwest, Rockies and Southwestern Canada this week. The good news is that the snowstorms forecast for this week for the most part will be confined to high elevations in these regions. These storms come…
One of the greatest challenges you face particularly as a new owner operator is knowing which loads to accept and which ones to pass on. In this blog, which is part of our “Level Up Your Trucking Business” series for owner operators, you’ll discover how you can use free, digital tools to make better decisions on loads. With the free…
Last week, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which includes emergency rental and homeowner assistance, small business assistance, extension of unemployment benefits and tax credits, and individual recovery rebates. Many consumers received their $1,400 rebates this week, which is expected to further boost consumer spending, though to what extent this will impact freight markets remains to be seen. In today’s…
Digital freight matching is changing how the freight brokerage and logistics industries do business. Digital freight matching technology finds the best truck matches for your uncovered loads in a matter of seconds, eliminating the need to use load boards or call/email carriers to inquire about capacity. With digital freight matching, you can instantly see what capacity is available, cover loads…
Wouldn’t it be valuable if you knew where demand for trucks will be high and low in the next week? Armed with this knowledge, you could maximize your earnings by passing on loads that would take you into areas where rates are projected to be low. Instead, you could make markets where demand will be high a top priority. Trucker…
Trucker Tools will be among the leaders and companies from across the logistics industry coming together at FreightWaves’ 3PL Summit on March 24, 2021. One of the industry’s largest events is going virtual, bringing cutting-edge technology and best practices for surviving and thriving in 2021 right to your doorstep. Trucker Tools will host a virtual booth and demonstration of its…
In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Trucker Tools is highlighting female leaders in transportation throughout the entire month of March. We recently spoke with trucker Kim Loescher, a 14-year veteran of the industry, about her experiences as a female trucker and the changes she’s seen in the industry over the last 14 years. In our conversation,…
In today’s edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” you’ll see how several months of port congestion around Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., is impacting other port markets such as Savannah, Ga., San Diego and Jacksonville, Fla. Just how busy was the month of February for West Coast ports? The Port of Long Beach had its busiest February ever…
Even though February is the shortest month of the year, we loaded up the Trucker Tools blog with lots of timely tips on dealing with winter weather, advice on how to grow your business and interviews with truckers from all across the nation. If you missed out on some of these February blogs, don’t worry — we’ve got your back.…
Orders for trailers in February were up by 82 percent when compared to last year, indicating that demand for trucks and capacity remains red hot across the nation. Major delays at U.S. ports, a driver shortage, sky-high demand for consumer goods and a boom in new home construction are driving freight markets and sustained demand for truck capacity. In today’s…
Trucker Tools recently had to good fortune to speak with Dr. Rhonda Bompensa-Zimmerman, Director of Fitness and Wellness at GlobalTranz. After a career in education and corporate health and wellness, Rhonda earned a Ph.D. in health psychology and joined the GlobalTranz team in 2019 to support the 400 plus employees onsite at the company’s headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. She offers…
Congress is expected to pass at $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill later today, which is likely to trigger a surge in consumer spending and freight volumes in the coming weeks and days. Truck capacity is already in high demand, as vaccine distribution increases and some states are in the process of relaxing their pandemic stay at home orders. In today’s…
To celebrate Black History Month in the month of February, we’re bringing you this interview series with Black professionals from around the transportation industry, from truckers and trucking company owners to brokers, logistics providers and transportation entrepreneurs. In this final blog in the series, we spoke with Jovanic Bontemps, owner of Atlanta-based FR8UP Logistics and FR8UP Transportation Services, the lease…
Our goal here at Trucker Tools is to provide truckers like you with absolutely everything that you need during your busy days in the cab. That’s why Trucker Tools has partnered with TVC Pro-Driver, a company that’s been serving truckers for more than 30 years. TVC Pro-Driver offers CDL legal protection to truckers through its network of more than 7,000…
According to a new report from Logistics Mangers’ Index, port congestion and consumer demand for durable goods increased demand and rates for truck capacity in the month of February, a trend that we’re seeing continue in March. On Saturday, FreightWaves reported that outbound tender volumes are up 16 percent year-over-year and that capacity is particularly scarce across the Midwest. In…
In a recent Trucker Tools webinar entitled How To Kickstart Your Company Culture, Trucker Tools’ CEO and founder Prasad Gollapalli was joined by England Logistics’ president, Jason Beardall. Together, Gollapalli and Beardall have more than 35 years of experience in the transportation industry. In the webinar, the two discussed what company culture is, how to build a positive company culture…
In Trucker Tools’ February blogs, we offered you tips on how to grow your business in 2021 and guidance on choosing the right technology for your company. Our February blogs featured an interview with Tamara Brock, owner of new 3PL Brock Logistics, about what it’s been like transitioning from being an OTR trucker to founder of a 3PL. We also…
Residential construction, consumer demand and an increase in U.S. oil drilling all are driving the sustained demand for flatbed capacity across the country. That’s why in today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?” three of the top five markets for truckers and carriers in the coming week will be flatbed markets. Rapid City, S.D., will continue to be one of the…
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Trucker Tools is shining a spotlight on female leaders within the transportation industry. Over the next month, we’ll be interviewing women working in trucking, freight brokerage, logistics and transportation software to learn more about their experiences as women working in transportation. For the first blog in this series, we spoke…
Wouldn’t you like to know where demand for trucks will be highest and lowest across the country over the next five to seven days? If so, Trucker Tools has you covered! Our three times/week “Where’s the Freight?” market report tells you where rates are on the rise and where they’re expected to be low in the coming week. The beauty…
In a recent webinar hosted by Adrian Gonzalez of Talking Logistics, Trucker Tools’ founder and CEO Prasad Gollapalli joined Russ Felker, CTO of GlobalTranz, to discuss how GlobalTranz has prioritized the enhancement of shipper and carrier relationships with its digital transformation efforts with Trucker Tools’ technology. The webinar, entitled Scaling Your Technology Up to Enhance Customer Engagement, includes insights on…
The decisions you make now impact not only how your business fares today, but also how it will fare in the future. In this blog series entitled “Level Up Your Trucking Business,” you’ll learn how you can use Trucker Tools’ free technology to reduce your expenses, maximize your drive time and create a profitable, self-sustaining owner operator trucking business. This…
The winter storms that hit Texas and other parts of the country over the past two weeks continue to impact demand for trucks across the nation. In today’s edition of “Where’s the Freight?” you’ll notice that two markets where demand for flatbed capacity is projected to rise this week are in Texas, reflecting fallout from these storms. Outbound tender rejections,…
Trucker Tools will join executives and professionals from across the transportation industry March 8 through March 12, 2021, for Elevate Americas 2021, one of several annual user conferences hosted by Körber (formerly HighJump TMS) worldwide. Trucker Tools is an Ambassador Sponsor of the virtual event, which will focus on how organizations can navigate uncertainty and understand emerging trends within transportation…
Happy Friday! In your Friday edition of “Where’s the Freight?” you’ll see that three of the five hottest markets in the next week will be flatbed markets, reflecting a nation-wide increase in demand for flatbed capacity. Construction and manufacturing are driving the increase in demand and rates for flatbed capacity. You’ll also find that Little Rock, Ark., is making its…
In Trucker Tools’ new blog series “Level Up Your Trucking Business,” you’ll receive insights on how you can use the Trucker Tools app and free carrier platform to reduce your expenses, maximize your revenue and position yourself for future growth. In this first blog in the series, you’ll learn about the expenses associated with load boards, with are probably greater…
With Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” you know where trucks will be in the highest demand over the next five to seven days. Armed with this information, you can get your truck(s) into these hot markets before they heat up to capitalize on high demand and rates. You also can use “Where’s the Freight?” to know whether it makes good…
As part of our celebration of Black History Month, we’re highlighting Black leaders in the transportation industry, from company drivers and owner ops to freight brokers and 3PL owners. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Pinkie Dabney, a company driver and social media influencer with more than 57,000 followers on her YouTube channel, Keeping it 100 Experiences. In…
An arctic cold front recently moved across the South and Southeastern United States, bringing ice, snow, whiteouts and treacherous driving to regions that don’t typically get much snow. Roads in many places are still covered in snow and ice across the Southern Plains and the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys. With this recent severe winter weather in mind, we spoke…
Published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” tells you where demand for trucks will be high and low over the next five to seven days. The predictions you see in each edition of “Where’s the Freight?” are based on real truck and load data from the Trucker Tools driver app and broker platforms. Using this data,…
If you’re thinking of implementing new technology in your brokerage or logistics business, you’re certainly not alone. The market unpredictability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how important it is for you to use technology to your advantage in your operations. Well-designed technology gives you the ability to react faster to fluctuating demand and provide better service to shippers.…
In today’s edition of Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” you’ll see that demand for flatbed capacity will remain elevated across several markets in the Plains states. Four of the five markets that are projected to be the most favorable to truckers in the coming week are flatbed markets, reflecting higher than normal flatbed volumes for this time of year. In…
Trucker Tools recently co-hosted a webinar with FreightWaves entitled Inside Scoop: How Ryder Differentiated Their Brokerage With Trucker Tools. This webinar featured Trucker Tools’ CEO and Founder Prasad Gollapalli and Dave Belter, Vice President and General Manager of Global Transportation Management Solutions for Ryder. The webinar discussion centered on how Ryder is leveraging Trucker Tools’ driver app, digital freight matching,…
Trucker Tools is celebrating Black History by highlighting Black voices from across the transportation industry, from brokers and truckers to entrepreneurs and 3PL-owners. One of those voices is Larry Cothran, who started his trucking career in 2007 as a company driver for Swift. Today Larry is an active YouTuber who shares the knowledge he’s gained over the years both as…
Trucker Tools’ “Where’s the Freight?” tells you where demand and rates are likely to be high and low in the next seven day period. “Where’s the Freight?” is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the Trucker Tools blog and on our social media channels. The information you see in “Where’s the Freight?” is based on real data from our…
The transportation industry is constantly changing and evolving, adapting to new technologies, economic forces and changes to the supply chain as they occur. One area of the industry that has developed and changed rapidly in recent years is digital freight tracking. As Omar Singh, CEO and Founder of Surge Transportation, told us in a recent interview, “Freight visibility has completely…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed truckers like you about your health, fitness and wellness challenges and how you stay healthy on the road. You may have even answered our survey. If so, thank you! We wanted to find out what you need help with when it comes to health and fitness. We also wanted to find out how you cope with…
In Today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, you’ll see that demand for flatbed will continue to be elevated over the next week. In fact, the Trucker Tools Market Index shows that four of the five hottest markets in the coming week will be flatbed markets, reflecting a nation-wide surge in demand for flatbed. It’s no huge surprise that Tucson, Ariz.,…
The Trucker Tools driver app has been downloaded more than 1 million times. The reason why is simple: it delivers on its promise of saving truckers like you time and money. What makes the Trucker Tools driver app different from other trucker apps is that it’s an all-in-one tool. Instead of flipping between four or five different apps, you can…
It’s that time of year! Winter weather currently is impacting demand and rates across several markets in the Southeast and Midwest. Another powerful storm is expected to start today in the Pacific Northwest and hit southern states over the weekend. Today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report shows high demand for flatbed capacity in the Plains states and several East Coast…
In celebration of Black History Month, Trucker Tools is highlighting Black voices from across the transportation industry, including truckers, executives, business owners and entrepreneurs. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tamara Brock, who spent six years as an OTR trucker before earning her freight broker’s license and launching her new 3PL, Brock Logistics, last year. In our conversation…
The last 12 months have been marked by unpredictability and volatility. It’s been feast or famine as the pandemic has impacted nearly every facet of supply chains, including staffing, manufacturing, inventories, ports, rates and driver availability. One of the big lessons learned over the past year is that technology helps brokers and 3PLs better mitigate market volatility. Approximately 62 percent…
Today’s Trucker Tools Market Index shows that demand for flatbed capacity in several Midwest and Plains markets will be high in the next five to seven days, while Tucson, Ariz., will continue to be a hot spot for reefer in the coming week. You also can expect rates for the Southwestern, Ontario, van market and Mobile, Ala., power only market…
Knowing where demand for trucks will be high in the future is priceless. When you know in advance which markets are likely to pay higher rates, you have time to get your truck(s) into those regions to capitalize on high demand. The same holds true for markets where demand and rates are low or decreasing. Knowing in advance where rates…
If you missed out on any of Trucker Tools’ blogs last month, this is your chance to get all caught up. In January, we published the results from our health and fitness survey on the Trucker Tools blog. A big thank you to the nearly 200 truckers who responded to our health and fitness survey. We also interviewed truckers to…
As we head into the weekend, today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report shows that demand for trucks will continue to be high in several Southern and Midwest markets in the next week. We’ll see surges in demand for power only capacity in Texas and Florida, while reefer demand will remain elevated in and out of Tucson, Ariz. Port congestion will…
Trucker Tools recently hosted a webinar entitled Comprehensive Insights To Scale Your Brokerage in 2021: What Brokers Should Focus on in Q1. The webinar featured Trucker Tools’ founder and CEO Prasad Gollapalli, who was joined by Doug Clark, an advisor at the Transportation Intermediaries Association and a 30-year veteran of the transportation industry. The discussion centered on best practices for…
The winter season certainly can be a challenging one for truckers like you. Icy roads, snow, blizzards, whiteout conditions and low temperatures can cause accidents, slow travel, lost revenue, delays and more. With these challenges in mind, Trucker Tools recently surveyed truckers from across the country about how to cope with winter driving. Nearly 200 drivers responded to our survey…
Demand for trucks continues to outpace available capacity in markets across the country. On Saturday, FreightWaves reported that national outbound tender rejections, which measure demand for trucks, increased slightly. Overall freight volumes are up by 21 percent when compared with 2020. In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, you’ll see that Austin, Texas, will be among the hottest markets for…
It’s hard to believe that January is already over, but it is! January 2021 was certainly one to remember, as we saw freight volumes (and rates) remain elevated in many parts of the country. Though rejections have gone down slightly since the holidays ended, business is still booming for this time of year. Trucker Tools published several blogs in January…
Trucker Tools recently interviewed owner operator Wayne Cragg to learn more about his life on the road as a flatbedder and about his career in trucking. Wayne is a veteran of the U.S. Navy who mostly hauls glass and steel. He often has to deal with snow and ice on his runs across the country. During our conversation, Wayne shared…
Happy February, truckers! In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, we see that demand for trucks remains elevated for this time of year across many parts of the country. Freight volumes at both East Coast and West Coast ports continue to trend up, which is impacting demand and rates on both coasts. A Nor’easter is bringing heavy snow and wind…
To grow any business, you need to be able to reduce your expenses and increase profit margins. In the simplest of terms, you want more money coming into your business and less going out of it. Using technology to make your operations more efficient is one of the most economical ways to reduce your spend and grow revenue. In many…
In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, you’ll see some new names on our hot and cold markets list, as well as some familiar faces. For the eighth consecutive week in a row, Tucson, Ariz., will remain the hottest reefer market in the country for those of you who pull refrigerated freight. Wheeling, W. Va., today makes its first appearance…
After careers in the U.S. Navy and hospitality management, Wayne Cragg got into the trucking industry based on a recommendation from a friend who ran a trucking school at the time. Eight years later, Wayne is hauling flatbed for a trucking company based out of Redmond, Ore.,and blogging about his life as a truckerfor CDL training company Driver Solutions. Wayne’s…
There are most certainly seasonal trends in the freight business. The first few months of the year usually are slow ones for truckers, as retail sales drop off after Christmas and the start of the new year. Freight rates usually are lower in the first quarter of the year, January through March, as a result. In this blog, we take…
If you’re waiting for the usual post-holiday dip in volume and rates, you may be waiting for quite some time! FreightWaves recently reported that tender volumes currently are 23 percent higher than they were at this time last year. Rates in many markets continue to be elevated to levels not usually seen at this time of year, which is great…
As a recent report from McKinsey & Company notes, the COVID-19 pandemic has offered brokers and 3PLs like you with opportunities for reinvention and growth: “The crisis presents opportunities for logistics firms to revisit their business models, enter new markets, and innovate around new service offerings.” The report goes on to astutely observe that, “Wise planners will prepare for a…
Your operating costs as a broker or logistics provider can balloon when many of your processes are manual. When significant amounts of time and human resources are required to complete a single manual task, you losethe opportunity to move more volume. Automating the most basic aspects of your operations delivers cost-savings and creates opportunities for growth. Instead of spending time…
Nationwide demand for trucks has fallen in the last week. Demand and rates for both dry van and reefer capacity have fallen in the month of January, as well. However, demand and rates for both dry van and reefer still favor carriers and are high for this time of year. Today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report shows that the reefer…
In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, we see capacity tightening in some Northeastern markets, while the Tucson, Ariz., reefer market continues to be one of the hottest reefer market in the country. Imports from China to the West Coast continue to surge, creating a traffic jam of container ships around Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., which is impacting…
There’s no denying that real-time, digital freight tracking benefits your customers. Shippers value freight visibility because it helps them better manage their staffing and other resources. Digital load tracking also makes it easier for your customers to identify inefficiencies in their operations and supply chains. Real-time, digital load tracking improves the efficiency of your own operations and that of your…
It’s that time of year when it seems like there’s a new blizzard moving across the country every week, dumping several inches of snow and creating whiteout conditions, which makes driving difficult. Trucker Tools recently surveyed truckers and carriers like yourself about winter driving and how to deal with winter weather challenges. Nearly 200 drivers and carriers responded to our…
Nationwide reefer tender rejection rates went up slightly last week, as did reefer freight volumes. This reflects high demand and per mile rates for reefer capacity across many parts of the country. On the other side of the coin, dry van spot rates are trending down this week, which is as expected at this time of year. In today’s Trucker…
Since we created the first version of the Trucker Tools free app for truckers, we’ve added over a dozen new tools and features that help you save time and money on the road. From in-app cargo insurance and CDL legal protection options to reserved parking and a crowdsourced weigh scale locator, the Trucker Tools driver app has everything you need.…
Read Time: 5 minutes This how to guide will walk you through how to save load searches in the Trucker Tools app. You can quickly and easily search for your preferred type of load, loads for your preferred lanes, loads at specific locations, etc., the next time you enter the app. In this video, I will show you how to…
This is usually one of the slowest times of the year in trucking. Not this year, however. Distribution of several different COVID-19 vaccines, an increase in volumes at ports and the possibility of a second stimulus are all driving sustained demand for trucks. Companies have developed better systems and protocols for dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, which has helped manufacturing rebound.…
The life expectancy of truckers is 16 years less than it is for people working in other professions. Long-haul truck drivers also are at a higher risk of becoming obese compared with adults in other occupations in the United States. The longer that truckers stay in the industry, the higher their risk is for developing high blood pressure, high triglycerides,…
It’s hard to believe it, but that’s another year in the books! In the last month of 2020, Trucker Tools’ blogs tackled some big topics to help you succeed in the new year. We interviewed driver Kim Loescher about how she maintains her health on the road and spoke with trucker Roni Bender for our top tips for new truckers…
An increase in freight at ports, consumer spending during the holiday season and a boost in manufacturing volume all made for a very busy December. In December, Trucker Tools shared several timely blog posts that offered guidance on how your brokerage/3PL can continue to grow in 2021 with the right technology-based tools. Our December blogs included an interview with freight…
Knowing where rates and demand will be high and where they’ll be low in the future is valuable information. When you can access this information in advance, you have time to get your truck(s) into hot markets before they heat up and out of cooling markets before they go cold. Trucker Tools’ newly launched Market Index Reports provide truckers and…
Increasing the efficiency of your operations boosts the overall productivity of your freight brokerage or logistics business. When you increase productivity, you can raise your profits margins and/or increase the volume of freight you move. Raising productivity also can ultimately benefit the shippers and carriers with whom you work. When you are able to do things such as share information…
Trucker Tools recently surveyed truckers like you to find out more about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting you and your livelihood. We conducted the same survey back in April at the beginning of the pandemic. The truckers we surveyed recently say that they continue to struggle with reduced income, reduced hours at truck stops, extended detention time, increased restrictions…
If you’re looking for information on where to go for the highest rates, you’ve found it! Trucker Tools’ Market Index Report uses information from our driver app, broker software platforms and other sources to predict where rates and demand will be highest and lowest in the coming week. Unlike many rate/demand prediction tools, our Market Index Report is free for…
During a busy season like this, it may be difficult for you to make time for exercise or even for stretching your legs for a few minutes. Sitting too long and not moving enough, however, can cause injuries to your back, high blood pressure and even blood clots, depending on your health and family history. Movement also gets your blood…
Trucker Tools’ Market Index Report is a three times/week report that tells truckers like you where capacity will be most needed and where rates will declining in the coming week. Armed with this knowledge, you can get your truck(s) into hot markets in time to take advantage of high demand and rates — and avoid taking loads into areas where…
If you’re like most truckers, you struggle to keep your diet healthy and to find time to get in some exercise. What you may not know is that the average life expectancy for you as a trucker is 16 years less than it is for the rest of the population. It’s also true that the longer you work in the…
In today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report, you’ll see that demand for flatbed capacity will remain high in industrial and manufacturing centers across the nation over the next week. Reefer demand also will stay elevated for border and port cities. As expected, demand and rates for dry van have decreased in many areas, as we enter a post-holiday lull for…
As a trucker, you do more than drive a truck and trailer. You also have to be a smart businessperson. You have to find loads, track loads for brokers, manage your expenses, navigate traffic and weather, deal with damaged or lost freight, find parking and lots more. Having the right tools on hand helps you manage all of these responsibilities,…
January is traditionally a slow month for freight, following the Christmas and New Year holidays. This year, however, may be a bit different given the events of 2020 and the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. Rates and demand have cooled slightly, but not by as much as in previous Januarys. Outbound tender volumes remain relatively high. Today’s Trucker Tools Market Index Report…
Happy New Year! As we turn the page on 2020 and enter our first week of the new year, Trucker Tools Market Index shows sustained demand for all types of capacity, but especially high demand for reefer. Outbound reefer tender rejection rates peaked at approximately 46 percent just before Christmas, and last week reefer rejection rates in some areas hit…