Unlock More Freight & Fuel Savings in your Transportation Network
The Breakthrough Monthly Freight Index
Elevate your freight strategy with the Breakthrough Ecosystem. Stay informed with the latest freight index and market update, empowering you to navigate shifts in demand and capacity.
Freight index analysis
Total shipments within the Breakthrough Ecosystem experienced a year-over-year decline of 3.6% and a month-over-month decrease of 4.4%. This ongoing downturn indicates that the freight market continues to be at a low point.
In September, demand across industries showed varied trends. Specifically, demand for durable goods freight has decreased for the fifth consecutive month, dropping by 22%, primarily due to reduced volumes in the automotive and home construction sectors. In contrast, the Paper & Packaging (6%) and Retail (3%) sectors reported growth compared to the previous year, emerging as indicators of recovery. Regionally, while most areas faced year-over-year declines, the Pacific region exhibited a 2.6% growth, likely fueled by a surge in imports through the West Coast.
Freight market update
Published: October 22, 2024
With election season underway and the holidays approaching, attention is turning toward consumer resilience and spending habits. Recent revisions from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) show that inflation-adjusted disposable income has risen over 3% each month in 2024, exceeding previous estimates of 1-2% and bringing growth closer to pre-pandemic levels. The National Retail Federation projects that shoppers will spend 2.5%-3.5% more in November and December. While this increase is slightly below the 3.6% average holiday spending growth from 2010 to 2019, it still indicates a positive outlook for the upcoming holiday season.
Adapt to freight market demands
To maintain a competitive advantage, integrate innovative strategies that leverage data, technology, and market expertise. By doing so, you can take a proactive approach to procurement.
Access real-time data
Prepare for the forecasted increase in freight demand by having access to a real-time, shipper-transacted dataset. With this type of data at your fingertips, you can benchmark your network against other industry-leading shippers and uncover opportunities within your transportation network.
Invest in relationships
Invest in mutually beneficial relationships with carriers to be prepared for any sudden changes in freight demand or capacity. Leverage Capac-ID to determine if alternative carriers might be a better match for certain lanes and loads.
Leverage a trusted source
Keep informed about market shifts to adjust your transportation plans promptly. By leveraging unbiased market expertise from sources like Breakthrough, you can effectively communicate market dynamics to your C-suite, enhancing your credibility as a transportation leader.
About the Breakthrough Ecosystem
The Breakthrough Ecosystem is one of the cleanest and most robust sets of transportation data in the U.S.
23+ million shipments
$28 billion in transportation spend
12+ billion commercial miles
1.5+ billion gallons of diesel fuel
Take control of your freight network
Experience firsthand how Breakthrough’s innovative freight solutions can keep a constant pulse on your transportation network performance and identify areas for cost reduction and efficiency gains.