SONAR Truckload Index (STVI, STRI, STMS, STLT, SALOH)

Trucking

SONAR Truckload Index (STVI, STRI, STMS, STLT, SALOH)

WHAT IS IT?

An updated, more balanced, and more comprehensive version of our original 2019 Tender dataset, these metrics measure truckload demand, capacity, and lead times using electronic requests from shippers seeking capacity from their providers. Its purpose remains the same as the OTVI, OTRI, OTLT and OTMS, but it draws from a more diverse and representative sample. This enhanced data set delivers richer coverage across key sectors like refrigerated, Food/Beverage, and CPG, offering a more detailed and representative view of regional freight dynamics.

The indices start on April 1, 2019 and volumes were created with a base index of 10,000 on a national level. These datasets are available at the National, Regional, State and Market levels as well as several Canadian Markets.

Volumes

SONAR Truckload Volume Index (STVI)
SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Reefer (STVIR)
SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Van (STVIV)
SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Flatbed (STVIF)
Also available in Length of haul
- Local SONAR Truckload Volume Index – 0-100 miles (CSTVI)
- Shorthaul SONAR Truckload Volume Index – 101-250 miles (SSTVI)
- Mid-haul SONAR Truckload Volume Index – 251-450 miles (MSTVI)
- Tweener SONAR Truckload Volume Index – 451-800 miles (TSTVI)
- Long-haul SONAR Truckload Volume Index – 800+ miles (LSTVI)
Exclusive STVIs
- STVIEX100 is SONAR Truckload Volumes for loads moving over 100 miles
- STVIEX250 is SONAR Truckload Volumes for loads moving over 250 miles
Deltas
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Yearly Change (STVIY)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Monthly Change (STVIM)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Weekly Change (STVIW)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Van Yearly Change (STVIVY)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Van Monthly Change (STVIVM)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Van Weekly Change (STVIVW)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Reefer Weekly Change (STVIRW)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Reefer Monthly Change (STVIRM)
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Reefer Yearly Change (STVIRY)
Business Day
- SONAR Truckload Volume Index – Holiday Adjusted (STVIHA)

Rejections

SONAR Truckload Rejection Index (STRI)
SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Flatbed (STRIF)
SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Reefer (STRIR)
SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Van (STRIV)
Also available in Length of haul
- Local SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – 0-100 miles (CSTRI)
- Shorthaul SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – 101-250 miles (SSTRI)
- Mid-haul SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – 251-450 miles (MSTRI)
- Tweener SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – 451-800 miles (TSTRI)
- Long-haul SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – 800+ miles (LSTRI)
Deltas
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Yearly Change (STRIY)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Monthly Change (STRIM)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Weekly Change (STRIW)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Van Yearly Change (STRIVY)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Van Monthly Change (STRIVM)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Van Weekly Change (STRIVW)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Reefer Weekly Change (STRIRW)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Reefer Monthly Change (STRIRM)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Reefer Yearly Change (STRIRY)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Flatbed Weekly Change (STRIFW)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Flatbed Monthly Change (STRIFM)
- SONAR Truckload Rejection Index – Flatbed Yearly Change (STRIFY)

Market Share and Tender Lead time

SONAR Truckload Market Share (STMS)
- Deltas
  - SONAR Truckload Market Share – Weekly Change (STMSW)
  - SONAR Truckload Market Share – Monthly Change (STMSM)
  - SONAR Truckload Market Share – Yearly Change (STMSY)
SONAR Tender Lead Time (STLT)
SONAR Tender Lead Time – Flatbed (STLTF)
SONAR Tender Lead Time – Reefer (STLTR)
SONAR Tender Lead Time – Van (STLTV)
- Also available in Length of haul
  - Local SONAR Tender Lead Time – 0-100 miles (CSTLT)
  - Shorthaul SONAR Tender Lead Time – 101-250 miles (SSTLT)
  - Mid-haul SONAR Tender Lead Time – 251-450 miles (MSTLT)
  - Tweener SONAR Tender Lead Time – 451-800 miles (TSTLT)
  - Long-haul SONAR Tender Lead Time – 800+ miles (LSTLT)

Average Length of Haul

SONAR Average Length of Haul (SALOH)
SONAR Average Length of Haul – Van (SALOHV)
SONAR Average Length of Haul – Flatbed (SALOHF)
SONAR Average Length of Haul – Reefer (SALOHR)

WHO IS INTERESTED?

Anyone that has an interest in freight movement patterns. i.e. Shippers, freight brokers, fleet managers, executives in a transportation company, owner operators.

WHAT DOES IT TELL ME?

Tender volume provides a way to judge load volumes in various ways. As load volumes increase capacity tightens. Volumes provide insight into where demand for trucks is increasing or decreasing allowing carriers to position their fleets in the most opportune areas.

Tender Rejections is an indicator of carrier activity. The higher the rejection percentage the less carrier availability to move the freight at the contracted rate in the market. The reasons for a carrier to reject the load tender are 1) lack of capacity and 2) too low of a rate. Fast movements up or down in a market indicate potential spot market activity as well as freight volume surges and network imbalances.

Market share percentages tell you what markets have the most impact on truck volumes. When market share levels change, network imbalances can show up creating potential spot market activity.

Tender Lead Time indicates shipper behavior patterns. When a market experiences changes in TLTs it can mean 1) the shipper is anticipating capacity issues, so the lead time increases and 2) the shipper has unexpected surging volumes, so the lead time decreases.

Trucking