Carriers regain ground in seasonal freight negotiations
The latest FreightWaves Supply Chain Pricing Power Index shows that shippers' pricing power rose to 40 this week from 35 the previous week, indicating a shift in negotiating power back to carriers. Also Read: Challenges Facing Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) Seasonal declines in freight volumes are typical for this time of year, primarily due to mid-week declines over Christmas and New Year, causing volumes to slow earlier than usual. Analysis by FreightWaves using its SONAR platform showed that the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), which tracks national freight demand, fell 5.4% month-on-month and 2.43% year-on-year. Despite the broader decline, some of the largest U.S. markets, such as Southern California and Dallas, saw slight increases in tender volumes. In contrast, markets such as Atlanta and Chicago fared poorly, with weekly volumes down 2.34% and 6.3% respectively. On the capacity side, the market is experiencing an increase in bid rejection rates - reflecting tighter conditions. The Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI) surged 286…