FreightWaves' SONAR platform has introduced a new metric, the Accepted SONAR Truckload Volume Index (ASTVI), which measures the volume of truckload freight that is successfully accepted by carriers and subsequently transported. This new index is designed to bridge a long-standing gap in market visibility, as previous metrics primarily focused on tender acceptance rates, which could be misleading.
Historically, tender acceptance rates have been a key indicator of market stress within the truckload sector. However, these rates only reflect the willingness of carriers to accept loads, not the actual volume of freight that ultimately moves through the network. By isolating accepted truckload demand and removing the influence of rejected tenders, the ASTVI provides a more accurate representation of the active freight moving through the system.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this new index offers enhanced clarity into real-time truckload capacity and demand. A rising ASTVI suggests a healthy and active market with consistent freight movement, while a declining trend could signal a slowdown in actual shipments, potentially impacting lead times and pricing. This data can inform better decision-making regarding load tendering strategies, capacity planning, and rate negotiations, providing a more reliable gauge of market conditions than tender rejections alone.
