Trucking & Freight Markets 360° - Trucking Freight Futures

The price chart below shows the price change in both the DAT calculated indices and the corresponding trucking freight futures contracts. While the shape of the futures forward curves are still showing an upward trend in trucking rates in November and December of 2019—followed by a significant decrease going into 2020—the forward curves for the national, south and west futures contracts have decreased from mid-year and late September (November and December futures contracts) as expectations for peak season trucking rates are moderating.

The trucking freight futures market continues to gain traction with a trade clearing on 10/21. Unlike the previous trucking freight futures trades that were based on the Los Angeles to Dallas and Los Angeles to Seattle directional lanes, this trade was on the National U.S. Van November futures contract. For a trucking carrier, the short positions of the most recent trades would allow them to lock in the increased November/December rates to protect themselves in case the actual trucking spot market rates in those months were lower than expected.