FreightFA

Estimate a full-truckload freight rate for a lane using FreightFA's DAT-basis rate engine. Returns a directional benchmark for planning. Each call counts as one estimate toward the account's monthly FreightFA allowance.

estimate_truckload_rate

Plain-English definition of a freight market index, ratio, or charge from the FreightFA glossary: OTRI, OTVI, load-to-truck ratio, NTI, Cass Freight Index, RCAF, fuel surcharge, freight class, detention and demurrage, DIM weight, bill of lading, deadhead, accessorials, linehaul, and more. Returns who publishes it, how to read it, and why it matters. Does not count toward the allowance.

explain_freight_term

Look up U.S. intermodal rail hubs by city or state: which Class I railroads serve the metro, the named ramps to ask a carrier about, and notes. Leave both null to list every hub. Does not count toward the allowance.

find_intermodal_hubs

Fetch one of the signed-in user's RFP documents, including its lanes.

get_rfp

Latest reading and next-period outlook for a global freight index: drewry_wci (Drewry World Container Index, $/40ft container), baltic_dry_index (dry bulk shipping), tac_air_index (air cargo rates), or iata_jet_fuel (jet fuel price). A forecast band is shown only where it has passed a backtest; otherwise the current reading only. Does not count toward the allowance.

get_freight_index_outlook

FreightFA's forecast for next week's U.S. national spot rate per mile (all-in including fuel) for dry van, reefer, or flatbed: the current weekly average, a p10/p50/p90 band, and whether rates look to be rising, falling, or stable, with the rationale and caveat. National, not lane-specific. Does not count toward the estimate allowance.

get_market_outlook

USDA weekly downbound grain barge rates for the river corridor between two Mississippi, Illinois, or Ohio River places, with next week's outlook where it has passed a backtest. Says when the places aren't on a priced corridor. Does not count toward the allowance.

get_barge_outlook

How U.S. rail carload prices are moving: the change in Class I railroads' average revenue per carload versus a year earlier, from their SEC filings (fuel surcharges included), for Agricultural or Industrial freight, with the outlook where it has passed a backtest. National, not lane-specific. Does not count toward the allowance.

get_rail_market_outlook

Today's U.S. national truckload rates per mile for dry van, reefer, and flatbed (all-in including fuel, with linehaul and fuel split), FreightFA's live-quote index, and EIA diesel, each with its source week and the change over the last 7 days. Use it for 'what are truck rates right now' questions; cite it as FreightFA with the as-of date. Does not count toward the estimate allowance.

get_market_snapshot

List the signed-in user's RFP documents, newest first, with lane counts.

list_rfps

List the signed-in user's lane rate alerts.

list_rate_alerts

List the signed-in user's recent freight rate searches and their results.

list_recent_searches

Vet a U.S. motor carrier from FMCSA SAFER data: operating authority, safety rating, insurance on file, driver and vehicle out-of-service rates, and FreightFA's risk flags. Search by USDOT number, MC number, or carrier name (give one). Data is cached for 24 hours. Does not count toward the estimate allowance.

lookup_carrier

Rank the freight modes (dry van, reefer, flatbed, intermodal, rail, barge, dump truck) for a shipment between two U.S. places, with the reasons for each, and return the lane distance in miles. Use it first when you only have city names or ZIPs, then pass the distance to an estimate_* tool for a price. International lanes return the ocean/air routing instead. Does not count toward the estimate allowance.

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