SONAR Bulk Truckload Rate (BULK)

WHAT IS IT?

BULK.USA is a national benchmark for bulk truckload pricing, designed to reflect how this segment of the freight market actually operates. Updated weekly, it provides a modeled view of bulk rates across the United States using state-based flows rather than traditional lane assumptions.

Unlike standard truckload benchmarks, this dataset is built around the realities of bulk freight:

  • Round-trip economics that account for both loaded and empty miles
  • Built-in operational costs like deadhead, reflecting true execution pricing

WHO IS INTERESTED?

  • Shippers moving bulk commodities looking to benchmark transportation costs against a reliable national average
  • Brokers and 3PLs needing a more accurate baseline for pricing and negotiations in a non-standard market
  • Carriers evaluating rate environments and positioning capacity
  • Procurement and finance teams building budgets or validating transportation spend
  • Analysts seeking a consistent, data-driven view of a historically opaque segment

WHAT DOES IT TELL ME?

BULK.USA provides a clearer signal of true bulk truckload pricing, it incorporates round-trip economics and operational costs, it helps you understand the full cost structure behind bulk movements rather than just a one-way rate.

With this dataset, you can:

  • Benchmark your rates against a national average that reflects real execution
  • Identify whether your pricing is aligned with broader bulk market conditions
  • Understand how bulk pricing trends are shifting over time
  • Add context to procurement, pricing, and contract decisions with a more complete cost view

It ultimately gives you a more reliable foundation for evaluating bulk freight costs and making decisions with greater confidence.

Search Knowledge Center

Related Topics

LTL Monthly Cost per Hundred Weight Aggregate (LTL)

SONAR Weighted Rejection Index (SWRI, SWRIV, SWRIR)

Truckload-Intermodal Spot Rate Spread (TLIMS)

Not Sure Where To Start?