---
title: How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment in 2021?
description: How are you viewing the truckload rate environment in 2021?
image: https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-12.jpg
---

[![FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png?width=400&height=111&name=FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png "FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4")](https://www.ftrintel.com)

[![AskTheExperts_LPheader](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg?width=1991&name=AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg "AskTheExperts_LPheader")](https://ask.ftrintel.com)

 

 

# How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment in 2021?

Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 29, 2021 12:40:00 PM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

**Avery Vise and Eric Starks were posed with the question, "How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment, as you indicated 10% gains in truckload rates in 2021?"**

This Q&A response from the FTR experts came from the January 2021 State of Freight webinar, [Preparing for 2021](http://www.FTRintel.com/2021). View the video and the key takeaways below and then leave a comment at the bottom to let us know what you think. 

 

 

 

**Key Takeaways:**

- We always see a response in the contract rate arena to what's happening in the spot arena with a lag of 6 to 8 months. 
- That timeframe was shortened in 2020 as shippers recognized very quickly how extreme the capacity situation was and responded faster to lock in capacity
- Truckload rates in 2020 were up 3% y/y, even with the huge dip in the second quarter
- Our freight forecast puts peak demand in the middle of 2021, putting additional strain on already tight capacity.
- Our forecast is for 11% y/y for truckload contract rates in 2021.

[Read additional Q&A from this webinar on the FTR Blog.](https://www.ftrintel.com/blog/2021/)

---

 

If you need to manage your transportation spend, or set budgets for rates, only FTR provides history and forecast for truckload rates for spot and contract, coupled with a freight demand outlook that helps you plan for capacity, letting you decide when it makes sense to go short on the spot market, or lock in contracts to secure capacity.   

 Tags: [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [Truckload Rates](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates), [Rate Environment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rate-environment)

 

| **Industry-Leading Resources** |
| --- |

**You work hard to strategically plan. Let us make it even easier for you. **

**FTR is the only company offering a full suite of freight and equipment reports with industry-leading forecasts, impartial analysis, and insights to keep you competitive.**

 

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/8686b978-ae99-49ea-a412-5d1d436baee1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/8686b978-ae99-49ea-a412-5d1d436baee1)

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/d81df147-6923-4224-b82b-8f2e6cf0fb03.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/d81df147-6923-4224-b82b-8f2e6cf0fb03)

 

 

| **Join the conversation! Leave a comment below.** |
| --- |

 

---

 

### Submit a question:

You **ask**. FTR Experts **answer**.

[![SUBMIT A QUESTION](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b)

 

 

---

 

### Search for answers: 

This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

### Browse posts by topic:

- [outlook (73)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook)
- [transportation (70)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation)
- [trucking (60)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking)
- [Economy (57)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy)
- [Rail (45)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail)
- [intermodal (35)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal)
- [state of freight (28)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight)
- [Freight (22)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight)
- [supply chain (20)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain)
- [commercial vehicle (18)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commercial-vehicle)
- [railcar (17)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar)
- [Class 8 (15)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/class-8)
- [orders (14)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/orders)
- [rail equipment (13)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment)
- [carload (11)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/carload)
- [economic (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economic)
- [trailers (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailers)
- [employment (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/employment)
- [production (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/production)
- [CV Update (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cv-update)
- [GDP (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp)
- [consumer (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer)
- [growth (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth)
- [jobs (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/jobs)
- [recovery (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery)
- [spot market (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-market)
- [Demand (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/demand)
- [driver shortage (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage)
- [for-hire trucking (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/for-hire-trucking)
- [inflation (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation)
- [automotive (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/automotive)
- [build levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/build-levels)
- [coal (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coal)
- [inventory (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inventory)
- [levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels)
- [utilization (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/utilization)
- [Truck and Trailer (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-and-trailer)
- [Truckload Rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates)
- [active utilization (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/active-utilization)
- [congestion (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/congestion)
- [deliveries (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/deliveries)
- [driver capacity (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity)
- [dry van (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dry-van)
- [economically-sensitive freight (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economically-sensitive-freight)
- [industrial sector (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/industrial-sector)
- [refrigerated (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/refrigerated)
- [spot rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-rates)
- [steel (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/steel)
- [unemployment (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/unemployment)
- [Capacity Utilization (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/capacity-utilization)
- [Consumer Spending (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer-spending)
- [Drivers (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/drivers)
- [GDP Goods Transport (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp-goods-transport)
- [OEMs (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/oems)
- [Rail Volume (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-volume)
- [box cars (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/box-cars)
- [chemical (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/chemical)
- [driver demand (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-demand)
- [driver supply (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-supply)
- [federal reserve (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/federal-reserve)
- [flatbed (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed)
- [fuel (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel)
- [heavy (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy)
- [hirings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hirings)
- [imports (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/imports)
- [labor (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor)
- [metals (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/metals)
- [service (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service)
- [services (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/services)
- [truck loadings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-loadings)
- [COVID-19 (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/covid-19)
- [Coronavirus (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coronavirus)
- [Freight Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-volumes)
- [Goods Transport (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods-transport)
- [India (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/india)
- [OTR (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/otr)
- [Parcel (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/parcel)
- [Rate Environment (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rate-environment)
- [TCI (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tci)
- [Tariffs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tariffs)
- [Truck Freight (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-freight)
- [Trucking Conditions Index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-conditions-index)
- [Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/volumes)
- [air (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/air)
- [amazon (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/amazon)
- [auto production (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/auto-production)
- [beverages (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/beverages)
- [challenges (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/challenges)
- [commodity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commodity)
- [competitive index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/competitive-index)
- [contract rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/contract-rates)
- [cube covered hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cube-covered-hopper)
- [disparity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disparity)
- [disruption (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disruption)
- [double-dip recession (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/double-dip-recession)
- [dwell times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dwell-times)
- [equipment costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/equipment-costs)
- [esg benefits (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/esg-benefits)
- [executive order (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/executive-order)
- [flatbed market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed-market)
- [forest product (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/forest-product)
- [freight truckload (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-truckload)
- [fuel costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel-costs)
- [gondola (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gondola)
- [goods (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods)
- [grain (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/grain)
- [heavy-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy-duty)
- [hires (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hires)
- [idle trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/idle-trucks)
- [labor participation rate (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor-participation-rate)
- [lead times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lead-times)
- [lumber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lumber)
- [market power (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/market-power)
- [medium-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/medium-duty)
- [merger (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/merger)
- [national debt (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/national-debt)
- [open-top hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/open-top-hopper)
- [openings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/openings)
- [order boards (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/order-boards)
- [output (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/output)
- [pandemic recovery (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/pandemic-recovery)
- [peak year (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/peak-year)
- [ports (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/ports)
- [psr (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/psr)
- [railroad (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railroad)
- [raw materials (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/raw-materials)
- [red tag (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/red-tag)
- [retailers (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/retailers)
- [rubber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rubber)
- [sand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/sand)
- [savings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/savings)
- [scrap (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap)
- [scrap metal (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap-metal)
- [semiconductors (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/semiconductors)
- [service disruptions (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service-disruptions)
- [shipping (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping)
- [shipping delays (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping-delays)
- [shortage (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shortage)
- [state budgets (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-budgets)
- [taxes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/taxes)
- [trailer industry (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-industry)
- [trailer market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-market)
- [train speeds (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/train-speeds)
- [truck rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-rates)
- [trucking companies (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-companies)
- [turn times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/turn-times)
- [used trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/used-trucks)
- [vehicle demand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/vehicle-demand)
- [workforce (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/workforce)

[see all](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021#)

### View recent posts:

### About FTR

From freight demand to system capacity to equipment production, our clients benefit from the industries most reliable forecasts, quantitative market intelligence, key trends, and comprehensive analysis on North American freight transportation. Transportation professionals apply this information to their internal planning, forecasting, and market analysis.

Our clients come from the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities. 

[Learn More](https://www.ftrintel.com)

### Links

### Contact Us

**

 888-988-1699

**

[ftr@ftrintel.com](mailto:ftr@ftrintel.com)

**

 1720 N Kinser Pike,  
Suite 210   
 Bloomington, IN 47404

Copyright 2026 — FTR | Transportation Intelligence

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/587939><https://twitter.com/FTRintel>

[**](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021#)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "The FTR Experts",
    "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2021-03-01T14:55:16.627Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-01-29T17:40:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment in 2021?",
  "image" : [ "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-12.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png"
    },
    "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence"
  }
}
```