Beyond The Road (The Transportation Industry Podcast)

Open-deck freight shipping is one of the most complicated segments of the transportation industry. The flatbed marketplace, although a vital piece of the U.S. economy, is influenced by external forces like weather and government spending.

If flatbed shipping holds a place in your supply chain, you'll want to ensure you do everything you can to keep these shipments running efficiently. Recently, trucking companies hav...

2023 was a difficult year for trucking companies. It was a great one for shippers though. Spot rates, which have been depressed since 2022, have remained low in 2024.

In this episode of Beyond The Road, we discuss current transportation industry market trends and where we expect things to trend throughout the year.

Topics covered in this episode: 

• 2024 Freight Rates Overview
• 2024 Truckload Market Projections
• Se...

February is one of the slowest months in trucking. Even if it's slow for your company, there are things you can do to set yourself up for success in the months ahead. Things will get busy again, let's make sure you're prepared when they do.

In this episode of Beyond the Road, learn everything you need to know about February. This includes how capacity tightens in the open-deck market due to harsh weather in...

2023 is coming to a dramatic close after what can be considered one of the most deflating years on record for the transportation industry. Companies have been shipping freight at depressed rates for a while now, making it hard for trucking businesses and their drivers to make ends meet.

As we head into January 2024, it's natural to wonder what the next year will bring. While we don't hold a crystal ball, and can...

December, the final month of 2023, is an interesting time for transportation companies; truck drivers head home for the holidays, freight volumes increase in the retail sector, open-deck shipments slow down and daylight hours shrink.

For shippers, December is the final month to move freight before the brand-new year. That said, with so many changes happening within area trucking markets, it can be difficult to do so.

In our first episode of season two, ATS' Corporate Pricing Manager, Reid joins the podcast to discuss freight pricing.

The past few years have been an interesting time for trucking companies; freight rates surged to all-time highs in 2021, only to fall substantially in late 2022 and into 2023.

Where does a freight rate swing like this come from? And, perhaps more importantly, what can companies like yours d...

November is a busy month in the transportation industry. Trucking companies around the country feel the impact of retail season and the impending holidays in November and December.

As a company with freight to move and a budget to manage, you must understand how November changes things in your neck of the woods and around the nation. Reefer capacity, for example, tends to tighten during Q4, disrupting the companies that u...

Wondering what happens in the transportation industry throughout October? Need some tips to employ to keep your supply chain running smoothly? 

As the first month of Q4, October kickstarts the final stretch of the year. Your company's supply chain needs to finish 2023 stronger than it started. In this episode of Beyond the Road we break down what happens in the oversize, open-deck, reefer and dry van markets in Octobe...

September will be an interesting month in the transportation industry as dry van and open-deck capacities shift around our nation. Produce season is essentially finished in the southern U.S., forcing these drivers to evaluate their next move. As a company with freight to ship, make sure to stay on top of your transportation supply chain during the 9th month of the year. 

In this episode of Beyond the Road, you'll get ...

As May ramps up, the transportation marketplace continues to change. This is seen most prevalently in the southern U.S. where produce markets start to soak up capacity. With this realization, truck drivers from around the nation flock to these areas and the heightened earning potential they offer. 

Construction season also picks up in May, tightening open-deck capacity across the board. This makes providing ample lead time...

In April, the trucking industry experiences changes on a massive scale. The regional, area and local demand for transportation capacity shifts across the southern U.S. significantly. Similarly, construction projects and tradeshows soak up a lot of open-deck capacity in many regions.

As the northern U.S. starts thawing out, frost laws are enacted in these areas and many shippers in these areas feel their impact.

...

Logistically speaking, the transportation marketplace undergoes transitions during March that are difficult to ignore. That's why, as your company's logistics expert, it's important to account for things like frost laws, construction season and dry van market shifts.

In this episode of Beyond The Road, we'll give you an overview of what's happening in the dry van, flatbed, oversize and refrigerate...

February is kind of a slow month in the transportation industry. There's generally a drop off in the volume of freight moving around the U.S.

As a result, you may see freight rates fall in the coming weeks. This makes February a great month to test your carrier relationships and develop systems for optimizing your processes.

In this episode of Beyond The Road, Josh joins us to shed some light on how the sec...

January, like every other month, brings challenges to U.S. supply chains. Throughout the first month of the year, many of these issues are tied to the changing weather in the northern United States and a downturn in eCommerce activities across the board.

As a shipper, there are several keys to successfully moving goods in January. Let's make sure your freight get's where it needs to go in one piece.

To...

December is a great month; the Holiday Season begins, snow falls across the northern U.S. and families gather around dinner tables to round out the year. For transportation companies and freight movement, December can be a challenging month. 

That’s why, in the interest of keeping your cargo moving on time and on your budget this month, it’s important to understand how transportation markets shift in December. 

In this episode of Bey...

There is a ton of transportation activity in November. This can be incredibly disruptive for shippers that don't plan for this uptick in freight movement.

As the retail season kicks off and food and beverage freight moves with greater regularity, it's essential you're prepared. Otherwise, you may experience higher-than-usual freight rates and long-term disruption. In this episode of Beyond The Road, we&apos...

As a company with sustainability goals, you're constantly searching for new ways to improve the carbon footprint of your supply chain.

SmartWay certifications are one of the ways freight carriers and transportation companies display their commitment to sustainable practices and doing better in the future.

Anderson Trucking Service is a full-service transportation company founded on the pillars of integrity ...

Breakbulk shipping is a crucial segment of many businesses. Breakbulk Americas is an international breakbulk shipping conference where stakeholders from all over the work gather to network, share best practices and refine their processes. 

In this episode of Beyond The Road, you'll hear from Carl, one of ATS International's transportation experts as he discusses the Breakbulk Americas trade show and the current s...

Over the years, October has become synonymous with things like pumpkin pie, Sunday Night Football and piles of leaves begging for the chance to become a playground of color into which children tumble. 

Don’t worry though, you won’t miss out on all the fun. You see, during its 31 days, October also brings mounds of excitement to the transportation world — creating new roadblocks and challenges for logistics managers to navigate. 

And,...