Loadsmart’s “State of Truckload” report combines Loadsmart’s proprietary rate and capacity data with third party information to help explain what happened in the market during the previous quarter.
Here’s what we’ve observed.
Contents:
The first quarter of 2019 saw increasing concern about the possibility of an economic slowdown and how it might impact transportation markets. Cass Information’s Freight Shipment Index, an index based on $28b in freight volume, has remained negative on a year-over-year basis since December 2018, meaning monthly freight volumes have been consistently lower than 2018 levels.
Further, while truckload linehaul rates continued to improve month over month since January, their rate of growth has been in decline since December. This is not altogether unexpected, as January and February are typically slow months for truckload freight.
CASS INFO FREIGHT SHIPMENT INDEX
The US economy offered its own set of mixed signals. After the 10-year Treasury Yield moved into correction territory in December of 2018 (2.52% in December) and initially recovered in February (2.73% on 2/4/19), it fell back again into correction levels at the end of March (2.41% on 3/31/2019). Adding more fuel to the fire, the New York Federal Reserve estimated that the probability of a 2020 recession had risen to 27.07% in April, its highest level since 2008-2009.
Meanwhile consumer sentiment, after showing signs of decline in February, grew to 98.4 in March, its highest level since October 2018. The jobs report, after giving an initial scare in February, posted 196,000 new jobs in March, in hovering near its 102-month average.
CONSUMER SENTIMENT INDEX
It’s important to note — these trends have not happened in a vacuum. The month-long government shutdown, combined with tariffs and the threat of a trade war with China have taken their toll on the markets and added an extra headwind for Q1.
The net-net? Q1 indicators showed a slowdown compared to last year, but it’s not time to turn completely negative in our outlook. 2019 will show continued growth, albeit slower than the breakout levels of 2018.
In an abundance of caution, we’d advise paying closer attention to freight volumes and other economic indicators as we move into Q2 2019.
While we won’t see the meteoric volume and rates of 2018, we’ll see steady, more measured, growth in 2019.
Economic contraction is on the horizon, we just don’t know when.
Outside of reduced shipment volume, rates in the first quarter remained low in large part due to excess capacity. Available trucks were able to cover most surges in demand, resulting in rates staying relatively flat or declining.
There are a couple of interesting takeaways here. First, a strong 2018 freight market coupled with savings from the 2018 federal tax cut led fleets to order more trucks than needed to replace older trucks — those new trucks are hitting the road now . Second, the initial capacity shortage tied to ELD implementation last April has passed, with previously sidelined equipment now making it back onto the road.
Quite simply, we haven’t seen this much capacity in years.
DRY VAN
DAT’s Van Load to Truck ratio hovered between 1.5 and 2.0 loads per truck from January to March, a sharp difference from just a year ago when the ratio was between 4 and 6 loads per truck. For two out of the three months, the 2019 ratio even remained below 2017 levels.
According to Loadsmart’s own proprietary capacity index, which is essentially an aggregated view of available trucks from dozens of sources, capacity has only continued to strengthen in Q1. March available truck postings grew 36% over February and April is already on pace to exceed March.
REEFER
In the first quarter, excess capacity was not limited to just van. The DAT reported that reefer load to truck ratios remained below 2018 and 2017 levels, hovering between 3.0 – 4.0 loads per truck between January and March. That’s nearly a 50% increase in capacity compared to 2018, when the load to truck ratio was between 7.0 and 12.
And while everyone expected the market to be soft in Q1, the ‘spring produce surge’ that typically starts to drive higher freight volumes had not yet arrived by March, delayed by flooding in the midwest and continued bad weather. It will be an important signal to watch as we move into Q2.
According to Cass Information Systems, truckload linehaul rates (without fuel) continued to contract throughout Q1, while remaining 6% above the previous years levels. This should come as no surprise, as demand remains soft and capacity has begun to rebound from the near crisis levels experienced during 2018.
DRY VAN
Van spot rates (including fuel), have been in steady decline since reaching $2.83 per mile in June of 2018 according to the DAT. In the first quarter of 2019, spot rates fell 5.1%, sliding from $1.95 / mile to an average of $1.85. And while rising diesel prices helped spot rates reach their peak in 2018, they have had a decidedly neutral impact in the first quarter.
Contracted rates remained relatively stable through December of 2018, but decreased roughly 2.5% in Q1, moving from $2.32 in January to $2.26 in March.
REEFER
Reefer rates followed a similar trend to dry van. Spot prices declined 6% in Q1, moving from $2.31 per mile to an average of $2.17. Contracted rates held their own, staying relatively stable at $2.54 per mile.
While the price of diesel had a decidedly positive bias on overall freight expenditures in
2018, it was relatively neutral in the first quarter of 2019, with prices staying flat in January and February, while increasing 2.5% in March ($3.076 / gallon). The United States Energy Information Administration has forecasted the cost of diesel at $3.08 per gallon in 2019, so we’ll likely see rates creep up as we make our way through the rest of the year.
With year over year freight volume declining for the fourth consecutive month, in addition to other economic indicators like the falling 10-year Treasury Yield, there’s now good reason for elevated concern. However, that concern should be weighted by the fact that month over month volume is growing, and demand still outstrips available capacity.
Our take? While elevated concern around economic contraction in 2020 is appropriate, it’s not yet time for doom and gloom. Shippers have an opportunity to save in 2019 while capacity is high and spot rates are in decline.
Loadsmart can help you take advantage of favorable market conditions by inserting real time rates alongside the static prices in your routing guide. This is made possible via direct integration with your TMS. In today’s market, there’s nearly a 20% gap between spot and contracted rates — savings which can be captured with Dynamic Routing.
Ready to Learn More?
Contact us at sales@loadsmart.com or (646) 887 6278. We look forward to working with you.
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