Outbound tender volumes continue on nice run

Outbound tender volumes (OTVI.USA) rose 7.48% week-over-week. Nationally, outbound tender volumes rose 6.52% year-over-year this week. Month-over-month volumes are up 7.06%.

It appears as though peak season has finally arrived and we are indeed having a peak season in 2019 thanks to a strong consumer.

Thirteen of the 15 markets FreightWaves tracks were positive on a week-over-week basis. Markets with the largest gains in OTVI.USA were: Savannah, Georgia (28.21%); Memphis, Tennessee (18.05%); and Laredo, Texas (17.16%). The two markets that experienced week-over-week drops were Los Angeles (-3.73%) and Fresno, California (-0.3%).

SONAR: OTVI.USA
SONAR: OTVIY.USA

National rejection rates breakout to the upside persist

National tender rejections (OTRI.USA) are on a sustained tear, finishing up the week at 7.92%. While this is four basis points (bps) below last week’s finish, OTRI.USA has risen 239 bps in the past month. 

OTRI.USA has now broken above the 6% level for four consecutive weeks. 

On a year-over-year basis, rejections are still down 510 bps from 13.02% last year. On a trending basis, OTRI.USA continues to strengthen, having risen in 14 of the last 17 weeks, with tender rejections rising off the 3.75% bottom experienced in mid-August. National tender rejections have now moved comfortably above their 60-day moving average by 29.62%.

Year-over-year comparables for national rejection rates are still difficult due to the daunting 2018 numbers when rejections never fell below double digits but are on the precipice of starting to ease. As a result, on a year-over-year percentage basis, OTRI.USA is down 39%. As can be seen in the chart below, comparisons start to ease soon though in the January and February 2020 time frame.

SONAR: OTRI.USA

For more information on the FreightWaves Freight Intel Group, please contact Kevin Hill at khill@www.freightwaves.com, Seth Holm at sholm@www.freightwaves.com or Andrew Cox at acox@www.freightwaves.com.

Check out the newest episode of the Freight Intel Group’s podcast Great Quarter, Guys here.

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Seth Holm

Seth Holm is a Senior Research Analyst for the Freight Intel Group at Freightwaves, which publishes proprietary research on all things transports and logistics. Most recently, Seth spent 9 years as an analyst covering consumer and technology, media and telecom (TMT) stocks at a hedge fund. Prior to that, he was as an analyst at a high net worth wealth advisory firm. Seth is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a major in Finance.