Sharks in the know stay in the Great Lakes region these days because it has the best freight market conditions for a carrier to find a good load.
As seen in the SONAR chart below, the rest of the country is cooling in terms of load volumes and readily available capacity.
However, the Great Lakes region, and some singular markets, are emerging as what should become your favorite hunting grounds for decent-paying loads.
The table on the left breaks down the markets in the region individually. You can see by the colors that fluctuations are relatively in line with the other markets in the region at this time. This means the region as a whole is moving in unison.
The map on the right is displaying haul in color and tender rejections in elevation. The Great Lakes region is dark blue and has a decent elevation. This indicates that the region has outbound loads over inbound loads and is tight on capacity.
The dark blue haul color implies that this trend will continue for the immediate future as capacity is exiting the region faster than it is entering.
No need to look elsewhere for freight at this time.
Unless you’re like me and can’t help yourself!
Breaking this map down by states as seen in the SONAR chart above, we can start to formulate a plan of attack.
Your plan needs to be to go from blue to blue. I know, red would indicate chum in the water.
Chum is for suckers! Go get the real freight!
Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania are all blue and somewhat elevated.
Let’s check the rates on this “Feeding Triangle.”
Columbus, Ohio, to Atlanta, is at $2.87 per mile and above the national average at this time.
Atlanta is a blue market as well, and since we are sharks, let’s check out what the other fish are too scared to do. Swim into the vortex of the Northeast!
Atlanta to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is sitting at $3.34 per mile. That is well above the national average, and for good reason!
So how do we get back to the freight-filled waters of the Great Lakes?
Now, we could go out to Grand Rapids, Michigan, or even Des Moines, Iowa, and get a good rate (I checked). But Sandusky, Ohio, is a very cool place to hang on the weekends in the summer.
So, while it is only 3 cents above the national average … those who know, know.
The Round House at Put-in-Bay, am I right?
Peace and love
