Help & User Guide
Learn how to read, interpret, and act on Freight Data Watch data
Quick Start Guide
Step 1
Start with Market Overview for a quick pulse on the industry — key KPIs and sentiment at a glance.
Step 2
Check Route & Lane Analysis for book/pass signals on your target lanes before committing trucks.
Step 3
Set Alerts & Thresholds on metrics that matter to your operation so you never miss a critical market shift.
Step 4
Use What-If Scenarios to model market changes and plan your fleet positioning ahead of time.
Spot vs Contract Rates
Spot rates reflect real-time market pricing for immediate freight. Contract rates are negotiated long-term agreements (typically 12 months). The spread between them indicates market volatility — a widening spread suggests tightening capacity.
If spot dry van is $2.55/mi and contract is $2.91/mi, the $0.36 spread is moderate. If spot exceeds contract, the market is very tight.
Rate Trends (WoW / MoM)
Week-over-week (WoW) changes show short-term momentum. Month-over-month (MoM) shows broader trends. Look for sustained multi-week movements rather than single-week spikes.
A +1.2% WoW increase for 3 consecutive weeks signals building demand. A single +3% spike may be weather or event-driven.
Regional vs National
National averages mask significant regional variation. Always check regional data for your operating area. Rates in the Southwest may move differently than the Northeast due to seasonal produce or manufacturing cycles.