What Freight Operators Should Actually Be Watching

Truckstop COO and Chief Strategy Officer Sean Dehan shared insights on the freight market during an interview with FreightWaves Today. Spot market load volume on Truckstop's platform was 20% above year-ago levels in September, with flatbed freight showing the strongest year-over-year gains since 2008. Dehan attributed this growth to data center construction and AI infrastructure investment.

Van and reefer freight, however, are primarily experiencing capacity-related challenges, with some shippers exploring intermodal alternatives due to proposed contract rate increases. Carrier insurance premiums have risen 10-20% annually for four to five years, and diesel prices hit a record $10 per gallon in California. Post-Montgomery and Lupus rulings, brokers are increasingly demanding carrier safety data, and Truckstop expects carriers to start proactively sharing safety processes to differentiate themselves.