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📡 Freight Market Intelligence

📈 Freight Rate Trend Tracker

Enter truckload and LTL PPI values from FRED and see period-over-period rate change, trend direction, and a combined rate environment read — rising, falling, flat, or mixed. All values user-entered. No embedded data. US market.

PPI Values — all user-entered from FRED, no defaults
Source: FRED PCU484121484121 → (monthly, free from BLS via FRED)
Source: FRED PCU484122484122 → (monthly, free from BLS via FRED)
Period Labels — optional
e.g., Jan 2026 or Q4 2025
e.g., Feb 2026 or Q1 2026
Reference Range — optional
Enter your own high and low reference values (e.g., the highest and lowest readings from your observation window) to see where the current period sits relative to that range. All values user-supplied.
🔗 Where to Get PPI Data — Primary Sources
Retrieve current and historical values directly from the primary sources before entering them here:
Disclaimer This tool uses PPI values you enter manually from public sources such as FRED. All outputs are for trend illustration only. Results are not financial advice, rate recommendations, or market predictions. QuicklyFig has no affiliation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FRED, or any data provider. Verify all data at source before making business decisions.
How the Trend Tracker Works

The Freight Rate Trend Tracker computes period-over-period percent change from two PPI values you enter — one for the prior period and one for the current period — for truckload (TL), LTL, or both. It then assigns a trend direction label and, when both segments are entered, a combined rate environment read.

Trend Direction Labels

Rising: Period-over-period change is greater than +0.5%. The PPI index level for this segment is higher than the prior period by a meaningful margin.

Falling: Period-over-period change is less than −0.5%. The PPI index level for this segment is lower than the prior period by a meaningful margin.

Flat: Period-over-period change is within ±0.5%. The PPI index level shows minimal movement relative to the prior period.

Combined Rate Environment Read

Rising: Both TL and LTL PPI readings show upward movement period-over-period.

Falling: Both TL and LTL PPI readings show downward movement period-over-period.

Flat: Both TL and LTL PPI readings are within the flat threshold period-over-period.

Mixed: TL and LTL PPI readings are moving in different directions — one rising while the other falls or is flat. When TL and LTL diverge, segment-specific readings carry more practical context than a single combined label.

Data Source

TL PPI data is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and available free on FRED as series PCU484121484121. LTL PPI is available as series PCU484122484122. Both series update monthly with a lag of approximately 4–6 weeks. This tool contains no embedded data — all values must be entered by you.

Reference Range

The optional reference range fields let you enter a high and low value from your own observation window. The tool then shows where the current period value sits relative to that range as a percent. These reference values are ones you supply — the tool does not define or provide historical high or low benchmarks.

Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find TL and LTL PPI values?
Both series are free and publicly available on FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data). TL PPI: PCU484121484121. LTL PPI: PCU484122484122. On each series page, the most recent value appears at the top of the data table. The series updates monthly, typically with a 4–6 week lag. For the prior period value, use the row immediately before the most recent reading in the data table.
What does the 0.5% flat threshold mean?
This tool uses ±0.5% as the boundary between "flat" and directional movement. Changes within this range are treated as minimal noise rather than meaningful index movement. This threshold is a tool parameter, not a BLS definition. The raw percent change is always shown in the output so you can apply your own threshold judgment.
Is this rate advice or a rate prediction?
No. This tool shows what the PPI index values you entered indicate about period-over-period movement — for trend illustration only. It does not predict future rate direction, recommend rates to charge or accept, or constitute financial, business, or investment advice of any kind. Verify all data at source and make your own business decisions.
What does "Mixed" mean as a combined read?
Mixed means TL and LTL PPI readings are not moving in the same direction based on the values you entered — for example, TL rates rising while LTL rates are flat or falling, or vice versa. TL and LTL markets can diverge due to differences in capacity, shipper mix, and contract cycles across segments. In a mixed environment, looking at each segment individually gives more useful context than a single combined label.
Does this tool use live or real-time data?
No. This tool contains no live data, no API connections, and no data from BLS, FRED, or any other source. All values are entered by you from the primary sources you retrieve directly. The read reflects the specific values you entered at the time you ran the tool.
How is this different from the Freight Market Conditions Interpreter?
The Freight Market Conditions Interpreter takes a broader set of market signals — Cass Shipments, diesel, GDP goods direction, and optionally OTRI/OTVI — and produces a market-conditions read (tightening, loosening, transitional, supply-constrained). This Trend Tracker focuses specifically on PPI index movement between two periods: it answers "did TL and LTL rate indexes go up, down, or stay flat period-over-period?" The two tools address different questions and are complementary.
Required Disclaimer This tool uses PPI values you enter manually from public sources such as FRED. All outputs are for trend illustration only. Results are not financial advice, rate recommendations, or market predictions. QuicklyFig has no affiliation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, FRED, or any data provider. Verify all data at source before making business decisions.