Trucking rates are often an unpredictable element of freight transportation. Because they are directly influenced by the market, trucking rates can be considered a reliable barometer of broader economic conditions. In times of economic prosperity, the surge in consumer spending propels freight demand, driving up rates as capacity becomes strained. Conversely, during economic downturns, reduced…
Category: Freight
Taking shipping logistics in a new direction
The annual holiday of love is upon us, and people across the country are going all out to celebrate. In fact, consumers are expected to spend a record-breaking $26 billion on Valentine’s Day this year. Love is in the air—and what better way to express it than sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers? Shipping flowers…
By: Mazen Danaf, Staff Applied Scientist at Uber Freight We’re through the very earliest days of 2024, and so far the market is soft—consistent with the past year. In 2023, spot rates fell about 21% from their 2022 levels, and contract rates fell 15%. While stagnant demand was not good news to most shippers, it…
2023 was the year everyone joined the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI). Gartner is calling it “peak hype,” AP referred to it as a public awakening, and AI scientist Fei Fei Lee says we’ve reached “an inflection point.” From panel discussions among the world’s most knowledgeable experts to casual dinner table discussions with family and…
As we bid farewell to 2023, the year that redefined our journey at Uber Freight, we reflect on 10 pivotal moments that encapsulate the essence of our transformative year. Deliver 2023 spotlighted the future of freight Our annual gathering brought together 300 of the world’s largest brands to exchange ideas and engage with the latest…
After three years of pandemic-fueled disruption, the freight industry finally saw stability in 2023: a soft market with an abundance of capacity, an increase in truck driver employment, and falling truck rates that provided a window to find cost-cutting opportunities within supply chains. With the market expected to remain soft in early 2024, logistics teams…
From household items to consumer electronics, no industry is safe from transportation theft. In the past year alone, CargoNet estimates that $223 million worth of goods has been stolen by bad actors. At Uber Freight, our team of highly experienced fraud investigators make it their mission to protect our customers’ shipments against malicious activities like…
With freight demand having significantly slowed down over the course of 2023, shippers now have more flexibility of choice than ever. In an advantageous market with access to more competitive, low-cost carrier options, LTL vs. FTL may not seem like such a tough decision today. But Yellow’s recent bankruptcy filing—which eliminated most of the nation’s…
Bill McDermott has seen his fair share of fraud in the transportation industry. He spent a decade working as an investigator for FedEx, and then worked complex criminal investigations at the FBI for over 20 years. Now, as Uber Freight’s Senior Investigator and resident expert, he helps ensure shippers are well-protected against financial risk and…
The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s peak season for shippers. For most people, that calls to mind visions of retail: the Black Friday frenzy and Cyber Monday shopping. But the holidays are also peak season for food banks. The pandemic and skyrocketing food prices have increased demand for food banks over…