Turning Data into Decisions: Inside FTR’s Market Intelligence Masterclass

In today’s freight environment, uncertainty is the norm. Capacity, rates, utilization, and equipment supply all shift in ways that can feel overwhelming if you’re relying only on raw data. That’s why market intelligence isn’t about having more numbers—it’s about knowing what those numbers mean for your business.

At the 2025 FTR Transportation Conference, Derek Young, FTR’s VP of Sales & Marketing, led the Market Intelligence Masterclass, a session designed to help shippers, carriers, and equipment suppliers understand how to cut through the noise and apply insights that actually matter.

Why Market Intelligence Matters

Data is everywhere. But as Derek shared, “what you do with the data is what separates best-in-class companies from the rest of the market.” FTR’s role is to provide that clarity through its Freight•cast forecasting methodology—a process built to:

• Collect inputs from 24 million+ data points each month, covering 209 commodities across truck, rail, and intermodal.
• Analyze those inputs through structured debate and expert review.
• Implement by delivering clear, actionable outputs leaders can use to guide strategy and defend decisions at the C-suite level.

Freight•cast in Action

Rather than speculation or gut instinct, Freight•cast is grounded in quantitative analysis and expert interpretation. Each forecast accounts for production schedules, driver inputs, macroeconomic shifts, and real-world channel checks. The result? Metrics like Active Truck Utilization that simplify complex dynamics into clear indicators of leverage, risk, and opportunity.

This process ensures FTR clients aren’t reacting to headlines, but responding to what really matters.

A Toolkit for Decision-Makers

For executives, finance teams, and sales organizations, FTR packages this intelligence in multiple formats:

• C-suite reports for high-level strategy
• Databases for deeper financial analysis
• Graphics packages for customer-facing teams
• Webinars and analyst access for ongoing support

Together, this toolkit makes freight market intelligence not just informative—but actionable.

Why This Session Resonates

The most important takeaway? Market intelligence is about freeing your teams to focus on their core responsibilities, instead of constantly monitoring the freight economy. By leaning on FTR’s unbiased perspective and proven methodology, companies can reduce risk, save time, and stay ahead in today’s volatile market.

🎥 Don’t just read about it—see the full presentation for yourself.