Arctic King Logistics

Arctic King Logistics Arctic King is a premier logistics provider, specializing in dispatching carriers with re**ers.

Mother's Day is a holiday that always falls on the second Sunday in May, just right before the FMCSA's Blitz Week. This ...
04/30/2024

Mother's Day is a holiday that always falls on the second Sunday in May, just right before the FMCSA's Blitz Week. This magical alignment drives rates to skyrocket, especially from nursery-rich regions such as Miami, FL. Given that Miami is currently one of the strongest outbound refrigerated regions, a shortage of trucks is expected to happen in the next few days as we approach the holiday.

Rates out of Miami increased for 7th week in a row, this time by $0.21/mile and are now at $2.15/mi on average, with a 41% increase in spot volume compared to the previous week. Over the next two weeks, even higher volumes are expected - approximately 30-50% higher than in previous weeks, which will put additional pressure on shippers and brokers. If you get to have a truck available in that market, take your time securing the loads. It's better to book them later in the day to get a great rate, as there are plenty of loads for everyone, especially if you're open to hauling multi-drop nursery loads.

Want to know more? Read here: https://t.ly/A_fza
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Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at DAT, recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the average broker margins for Febru...
04/03/2024

Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at DAT, recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the average broker margins for February. According to the data, broker margins for re**ers are at 14.38%, which translates to an average of $427.65 per load.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you find this data reliable and insightful, or do you have doubts about its accuracy?

Tell us in the comments!

Today, a severe weather outbreak persists across the Ohio Valley and the South, bringing with it a host of hazards inclu...
04/02/2024

Today, a severe weather outbreak persists across the Ohio Valley and the South, bringing with it a host of hazards including tornadoes, hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding. Another round of thunderstorms is anticipated to develop in the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio River valleys, moving eastward into the upper Ohio River and Tennessee River valleys later in the day. This could potentially spawn strong, long-track tornadoes, particularly in areas spanning from southern Ohio into southeast Indiana and eastern Kentucky. Cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, and Lexington are at risk. Additionally, a broader area extending from the Tennessee Valley southward through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle, as well as eastward into portions of the Appalachians, may experience dangerous severe storms with the possibility of tornadoes, wind damage, large hail, and flash flooding.

The National Weather Service has issued flood watches from central Illinois to West Virginia and southwest Pennsylvania, warning of multiple rounds of thunderstorms that could lead to flash flooding. This risk is particularly pronounced in parts of eastern Ohio and West Virginia, where flash flooding has already occurred.

Stay safe with severe weather safety tips, including having a NOAA weather radio, using smartphone alerts, and knowing where to move your truck.

The Florida season has already begun shipping produce loads, mostly out of the Lakeland area. But, that still does not m...
04/01/2024

The Florida season has already begun shipping produce loads, mostly out of the Lakeland area. But, that still does not mean we are officially into produce season. The season really starts when we see produce loads out of Georgia and South Carolina. This will cause a chain reaction in the spot market, resulting in an increase in spot rates between now and July. This period will be interesting for re**er carriers as capacity tightens.

The key focus during this transition is to seize the opportunity to secure a well-paying load heading to Florida at the optimal time when freight rates from Florida are on the rise. This strategy ensures that you can capitalize on two profitable headhauls, maximizing earnings in both directions of the trip.
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Truckers and trucking companies are facing a difficult market and cutting costs to a minimum is essential for survival. ...
03/29/2024

Truckers and trucking companies are facing a difficult market and cutting costs to a minimum is essential for survival. In addition, having strong relationships with brokers and a thorough understanding of the industry is crucial. Although we can't help with cost-cutting and relationships, we can provide information on which areas are likely to have the highest demand for produce in April.

The USDA produces reports on the availability of various produce items throughout the year. These reports can be used to determine when and where produce is in high demand. For example, the USDA's "Vegetable and Pulses Yearbook" report shows that in April, the leading vegetable commodities produced in the US include lettuce, tomatoes, and broccoli, etc. among others. Therefore, regions that produce or consume these vegetables may be good places to reposition a truck with a re**er trailer in April.

Broccoli:
Top 3 states for April harvest: California, Arizona, Texas
Top 3 counties for broccoli production in April:
Monterey County, California (43%)
San Luis Obispo County, California (19%)
Santa Barbara County, California (13%)

Tomatoes:
Top 3 states for April harvest: Florida, California, Tennessee
Top 3 counties for tomato production in April:
Manatee County, Florida (36%)
Fresno County, California (33%)
Grainger County, Tennessee (22%)

Lettuce:
Top 3 states for April harvest: California, Arizona, Colorado
Top 3 counties for lettuce production in April:
Monterey County, California (24%)
Yuma County, Arizona (90%)
Imperial County, California (20%)

Strawberries:
Top state for April harvest: California
Top 3 counties for strawberry production in April:
Monterey County, California (29%)
Santa Barbara County, California (19%)
Ventura County, California (18%)

Asparagus:
Top 3 states for April harvest: California, Michigan, Washington
Top 3 counties for asparagus production in April:
San Joaquin County, California
Sacramento County, California
Oceana County, Michigan

Artichokes:
Top 3 states for April harvest: California, Arizona, Texas
Top 3 counties for artichoke production in April:
Monterey County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Riverside County, California

North Carolina holds the undisputed crown when it comes to American agriculture, or should we say sweet potato. Accordin...
03/26/2024

North Carolina holds the undisputed crown when it comes to American agriculture, or should we say sweet potato. According to the latest USDA report (2020), the Tar Heel state boasts a whopping 60% share of the national sweet potato crop. That's right, nearly two-thirds of all the sweet potatoes you enjoy come from North Carolina!

In April specifically, the top five counties for sweet potatoes in the US were:

1. Johnston County, North Carolina - 39%
2. Sampson County, North Carolina - 23.6%
3. Nash County, North Carolina - 12.3%
4. Holmes County, Mississippi - 5.7%
5. Scott County, Mississippi - 5.5%

In North Carolina, sweet potato production experiences two peaks. The main one occurs about a week before Thanksgiving, averaging around 21,000,000 pounds since 2018. The other peak typically falls around Easter, with an average of about 18,000,000 pounds, roughly equivalent to 500 full truckloads of sweet potatoes. North Carolina sweet potatoes make up nearly 70% of the U.S. sweet potato volume in mid-March, according to USDA shipment data.

Although many carriers may not prefer to haul bulk potatoes, it's worth it as the pay is usually above market average.

Typically, shippers require re**ers to be set between 42-60°F, but if the temperature isn't too extreme, you can haul it as a dry commodity. If the weather is hot, you'll just need to open the vents for airflow.

The only downside of bulk potatoes load is that the trailer has to be washed-out after unloading, otherwise, you will be rejected on the next pickup. Sometimes this washing can take a very long time, depending on the condition of the potatoes and the trailer itself.

Want to know more? Read here: https://t.ly/UVmQ2
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Compelling chart illustrating the correlation between deadhead and rate per mile using our company's data!*Please note t...
03/22/2024

Compelling chart illustrating the correlation between deadhead and rate per mile using our company's data!
*Please note that this data is specific to our company, and may not reflect data from other companies.*
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Map where blue dots represent the location of existing Fruit & Vegetables wholesale facility locations.Data based on USD...
03/21/2024

Map where blue dots represent the location of existing Fruit & Vegetables wholesale facility locations.

Data based on USDA 2007 research.
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Quarter 1 is usually the quieter stretch in the freight biz, but come March, as the weather gets better, the produce sea...
03/19/2024

Quarter 1 is usually the quieter stretch in the freight biz, but come March, as the weather gets better, the produce season kicks off in the Southeast - Florida, and on the other end, the Southwest - Southern California.

In March, the market dynamics begin to shift as the seasonality takes hold. Northern states see a dip in both volume and rates, while their southern counterparts experience an uptick. This signals the start of the new season for the majority of refrigerated carriers, a trend that typically persists until July.

Florida's produce season is just getting started this time of year. Currently, strawberries are a hot item around Tampa, and in the coming weeks, tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus, watermelons, and more will be in high demand.

When it comes to California, it's a major player in the produce scene, especially when considering the overall domestic produce season. Starting in early April and peaking in June, California's season is unique for its length and regional variations and it drives the season forward and usually sets the tone for the entire domestic market.

Meanwhile, Texas also plays a significant role in the early produce season, not only because it kicks off its own season but also due to its ties to Mexico. From February through June, especially peaking in April, southern Texas and Mexico—areas like McAllen, Laredo, and El Paso—become bustling hubs for refrigerated equipment. McAllen, TX, in particular, has earned recognition as the top refrigerated market for the fifth consecutive week, boasting solid volumes and an average outbound rate of $2.56, according to our Rate Watch system.

What about rates?
In the weeks ahead, we anticipate rates to rise in these markets while cooling down in the northern ones. In Florida they usually start peaking in April. The current RPM is $1.70/mi, down 12 cents from last year.

What about other regions? You can read more here: https://t.ly/O5NdD
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To kickstart the recovery in trucking markets and initiate a new cycle, we need to balance out the supply of carriers. S...
03/18/2024

To kickstart the recovery in trucking markets and initiate a new cycle, we need to balance out the supply of carriers. Since October 2022, we've witnessed a significant drop of nearly 36,000 interstate motor carrier authorities, and this number keeps growing.

In February, over 4,000 carriers exited the industry, marking a 10.3% increase from January. This trend is likely due to persistently low spot market prices, leading to more business closures.

However, February also saw a positive note with a 9% rise in new carrier registrations, totaling 8,675. Although this figure is 11% lower compared to last year, it indicates a sense of cautious optimism among new players, especially following January's positive trajectory.

Looking ahead to March, current data suggests that if the current trend persists, it could be the first month with fewer than 1,000 net losses since the downturn began. This could potentially prolong the downturn beyond initial expectations.
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According to data available on the USDA website, a comparison of volumes reveals a concerning trajectory. Last month's v...
03/13/2024

According to data available on the USDA website, a comparison of volumes reveals a concerning trajectory. Last month's volumes lagged significantly behind historical trends. USDA data indicates that February 2023 witnessed a staggering decrease of 80,470,000 lbs, equivalent to over 2,000 FTLs of produce solely from Florida.

However, recent upticks in volumes, particularly in Cabbage, Lettuce, and Strawberries, have somewhat mitigated the decline. Yet, challenges loom as the Cabbage, Lettuce and Strawberry seasons typically wind down after mid-March, necessitating the transition to other produce types to sustain Florida's season.

What about other commodities? Read more here: https://t.ly/SV1Ds
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Same period, but a difference of 270,320,000 pounds, equivalent to 7000 fewer FTLs of produce this year. This decrease i...
03/12/2024

Same period, but a difference of 270,320,000 pounds, equivalent to 7000 fewer FTLs of produce this year. This decrease in truckload refrigerated volumes in February can be attributed to a combination of factors, including higher temperatures, elevated prices of fruits and vegetables, reduced purchasing power and overall lower produce volumes.

What's ahead? Typically, volumes remain fairly stable during March with no significant changes. The first increase in produce volumes occurs in the second week of April, driven by domestic volumes. During April, Florida and Texas become crucial points in the refrigerated market. In May, refrigerated volumes are dominated by imports and the southern part of California, peaking in the last week of June with around 50,000 full truck loads of various fruits and vegetables per week.

These volumes often end up on the spot market. What's interesting is this year we expected to see increased activity of truckloads with multistop because shippers will try to ship as much as they can with one truck due to lower negotiation power from the carrier side.

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