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Chris Caplice. Bignell, Andrew (Andrew Souglas) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division 2013-09-24T19:42:28Z 2013-09-24T19:42:28Z 2013 2013 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/81094 858277706 Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2013. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-93). In the truckload transportation industry in the United States, a number of indexes are published that attempt to measure changes in rates, but no single index has emerged as an industry standard. Industry participants, particularly those exposed to the spot-market, have found that existing indexes do not effectively represent their experiences in the marketplace. A widely-used and valid spot-market index could allow for more effective tactical decision-making, the development of freight derivatives, stronger analysis and negotiation of contract rates, and contracts with index-tied rates. This paper examines pricing indexes from other industries and expands upon a framework of characteristics that support successful indexes. Using this framework to evaluate existing industry indexes, it finds that two commonly used indexes are not designed appropriately for use by the spot-market. It also examines rates experienced by a large North American provider of non-asset based logistics services and finds that they differ significantly from rates measured by existing indexes. The analysis suggests that indexes of the spot market would be improved by disaggregating rate information based on geography and tender lead time. by Andrew Bignell. M.Eng. in Logistics 93 p. eng Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 Engineering Systems Division. Characteristics of spot-market rate indexes for truckload transportation Thesis application/pdf false Publication unknown unknown <Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="bcb652b8-6263-40a2-a535-53dc0d4ce0c4"> <Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type> <Language>eng</Language> <Title>Characteristics of spot-market rate indexes for truckload transportation</Title> <PublishedIn> <Publication> </Publication> </PublishedIn> <PublicationDate>2013</PublicationDate> <Authors> <Author> <DisplayName>Bignell, Andrew (Andrew Souglas)</DisplayName> <Affiliation> <OrgUnit> </OrgUnit> </Affiliation> </Author> </Authors> <Editors> </Editors> <Publishers> <Publisher> <DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName> <OrgUnit /> </Publisher> </Publishers> <License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License> <Keyword>Engineering Systems Division.</Keyword> <Abstract>In the truckload transportation industry in the United States, a number of indexes are published that attempt to measure changes in rates, but no single index has emerged as an industry standard. Industry participants, particularly those exposed to the spot-market, have found that existing indexes do not effectively represent their experiences in the marketplace. A widely-used and valid spot-market index could allow for more effective tactical decision-making, the development of freight derivatives, stronger analysis and negotiation of contract rates, and contracts with index-tied rates. This paper examines pricing indexes from other industries and expands upon a framework of characteristics that support successful indexes. Using this framework to evaluate existing industry indexes, it finds that two commonly used indexes are not designed appropriately for use by the spot-market. It also examines rates experienced by a large North American provider of non-asset based logistics services and finds that they differ significantly from rates measured by existing indexes. The analysis suggests that indexes of the spot market would be improved by disaggregating rate information based on geography and tender lead time.</Abstract> <Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right" > </Access> </Publication>