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 continue to impact the Stockton, Calif., market, as it will remain one of the worst markets in the country for reefer.
An arctic cold front with extremely low temperatures and strong winds is expected to hit the Plains and Northeast this weekend. Temps in some areas will go well below zero and wind chills will make it feel even colder. Bundle up and stay warm, everyone!
Where Rates Will Be High or Rising
- In the coming week, Cheyenne, WY., and Southwest Ontario (Canada) will be the best markets for flatbed for truckers. Rates for flatbed in and out of Lexington, KY., will be on the rise this week.
- Tucson, AZ, and South Bend, IN., will continue to be two of the hottest reefer markets in the country for truckers over the next five to seven days. We’ll also see an uptick in demand for reefer capacity for Texarkana, Texas.
- Austin, Texas, is projected to be the best market for power only over the next week. Power only demand/rates will continue to rise for Jacksonville, FL, and Dallas.
- Expect Minot, N.D., to be among the best dry van markets for truckers this week.
Where Rates Will Be Low or Falling
- Duluth, MN, and Stockton, CA, will be two of the coldest flatbed markets for truckers in the coming week. Demand for flatbed will be falling this week for Ithaca, N.Y.
- Reefer rates will remain low over the next five to seven days for Hartford, CT, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. (Canada).
- Power only demand/rates are projected to fall in the coming week for Mobile, AL.
Trucker Tools’ Market Insights
- Demand for flatbed in and out of Cheyenne, WY., currently is three times higher than it was at this time last year.
- South Bend, IN., is home to multiple large-scale distribution centers, including an Amazon distribution center, which opened in 2019.
- South Bend, IN., also is at the crossroads of three of the country’s most important highways, Interstates 80, 90 and 94.
- Jacksonville, FL., is a major shipping and manufacturing hub. UPS and Amazon both have manufacturing and/or distro centers in the area.
- The Port of Jacksonville is the 14th largest container port in the United States.
FreightWaves SONAR: Lanes To Target
We’ve joined forces with FreightWaves to give you more information on which markets will be hot in the coming week. In today’s SONAR Daily Outlook, FreightWaves is reporting that excess intermodal capacity for the Atlanta to Los Angeles will create demand for time-sensitive loads. You may want to consider markets in the central part of the country before accepting tendered loads into L.A. If you run Seattle to Los Angeles, plan to stay firm on your rates in the coming week, as pricing will shift back in your favor. If you’re van carrier/driver, it’s recommended that you cover Kansas City to Little Rock on the spot market. This lane also is a great one if you’re running reefer, as capacity is very tight.
Check out High Demand for Truck Capacity in Jonesboro, Savannah, Austin and South Bend for more insights into which markets will heat up and which will cool off in the next five days. To download Trucker Tools’ free driver app, visit https://www.truckertools.com/carriers/.
