Weekly Freight Market Update: Signs of Spring
Industry Insights, Shippers • Published on March 9, 2019
Compared to last week, freight volume decreased about 2.5% across the country. Tender rejection rates have remained stable (hanging around 7%).
The upcoming lettuce harvest in the Southeast indicates the first sign of spring. Harvest appears to have begun in some parts of Florida, and reefer prices from southern and central Florida have increased.
On the other side of the country, Phoenix found shipment volume up nearly 30% as produce shippers headed into harvest season there. Reefer shipments will be in high demand over the next 60 days — and will soon compete with shipments starting to come across the border into Nogales, Arizona.
Daylight Savings Safety
On Sunday, March 10, 2 a.m. becomes 3 a.m. as daylight savings time begins. This causes confusion for carriers and facility workers if a pickup time is scheduled during those early-morning hours. Be sure to confirm the right appointment time, and take extra caution on the road.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Stanford University report an increase in accidents on U.S. roads following the time change. ELDs now account for the time change automatically — just remember HOS rules are centered around actual hours driven, regardless of what time it is.
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