What Freight Operators Should Actually Be Watching

Truckstop's COO and Chief Strategy Officer Sean Dehan offers insights into the freight market, highlighting key trends affecting operators. Spot market load volume on Truckstop's platform is up roughly 20% year-over-year in September, with flatbed freight posting its strongest gains since 2008, even surpassing the COVID-era surge.

Dehan attributes this to drivers like data center construction and AI infrastructure investment. Van and reefers are more capacity-driven, with some shippers seeking intermodal alternatives due to proposed contract rate increases. Carrier insurance premiums have risen 10%-20% annually for four to five years, while diesel prices reached a record $10 per gallon in California, squeezing margins.

Legal uncertainty, particularly from the Montgomery and Lupus decisions, is also impacting brokers, who are now demanding more carrier safety data. Truckstop plans to develop tools to enable carriers to proactively share their safety data, shifting the vetting process from surveillance to collaboration.