Transportation Trend - December 2023

December 2023

Yellow Corporation's terminals auctioned with major carriers winning bids. Find some tips on routing freight this holiday season!

TLI News

TLI recently completed the move to a new Headquarters office in Exton, PA. The decision has been made to enhance accessibility to clients and have an improved geographical advantage.

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Holiday season is here!

The holidays are here! A busy time for retailers and time to spend with your loved ones. Find some resources on how to safely route freight during the holiday season here.

Get ahead of the game with TLI by providing your Account Rep or our Customer Service team with known holiday hours and company shut downs. Let us help you route your freight more effectively this coming holiday by providing heads up!

Yellow Corporation: Bankruptcy Saga

Last week, the terminals in Yellow Corporations network (more than 300) were put to bid in an auction. While 130 terminals have been approved for purchase, there are still many being auctioned.

Many less-than-truckload carriers were showed as winning bidders for 130 terminals. XPO won 28 properties in a $870 million bid and ESTES won 24 terminals valued at $250 million. As discussed in the section below, the additional volume in other LTL networks has affected LTL carrier service performance since the July bankruptcy. However, adding additional terminals and equipment may help carriers to alleviate the volume pains.

Less-than-Truckload

Recent conversations with LTL carriers highlighted a higher volume of freight in their systems. Most carriers are reporting higher year-over-year volumes in the mid-teens to twenty percent and operating above capacity levels. The main factors of higher volume appear to be Yellow’s bankruptcy fall out and other industry challenges.

An interesting tidbit from SAIA LTL Freight's corner is their expansion into Trade Show Freight. SAIA has hired most of the Yellow Corporation's YRC Trade Show team to start taking on this kind of business. While most LTL carriers can deliver to trade shows, it's best to partner with a service solely focused on trade shows. With various factors involved, moving freight with the specific service allows for more peace of mind. Learn more about Trade Show Freight Routing.

Truckload

Truckload Demand continues lower than this time last year. Load-to-Truck ratios help tell how many loads are available for the number of trucks around the area. DAT's national average is down 21.2% compared to this time last year. 

National Average Diesel fuels continues to drop for the sixth consecutive week. Diesel is now $0.875 per gallon since a year ago. This metric is good to keep an eye on as fuel surcharges directly affect pricing for shippers.