Air cargo pricing isn’t just about numbers anymore. It’s about understanding the story those numbers are telling. And now, with the launch of FAX Pulse in WebCargo’s Terminal, forwarders can do just that – tap into real-time insights across demand, supply, bookings, and tonnage, all derived from actual platform activity across 5,000+ forwarders and dozens of airlines.
Whether you’re a WebCargo eBooking power user or relying on Terminal for market intelligence, this new upgrade gives you a front-row seat to the market’s real heartbeat.
Let’s dive into the four new indexes transforming how forwarders negotiate, plan, and win.
1. Demand Index – Spot Spikes Before They Become Surcharges
Use case: Preempt market surges and optimize when (and where) to book.
Imagine being able to predict a capacity crunch before it hits your client’s quote. The Demand Index, covering nearly 200 lanes, uses live data from WebCargo’s quoting engine – think millions of searches across thousands of freight forwarders – to track fluctuations in search interest on a per-route basis. Anton Barr, VP Market Data at Freightos explains:
When demand jumps by 51% in one week – as we saw recently on AMS to Central America – forwarders that react quickly can lock in rates before prices climb.
Forwarders can use this to time large volume shipments, lock in BSAs, or even offer proactive customer guidance when it looks like the market’s heating up.
2. Supply Index – Know When Capacity is Catching Up
Use case: Detect potential imbalances between supply and demand – before the rate sheet reflects it.
The Supply Index tracks how many quotes airlines return in response to those WebCargo searches. When demand goes up but supply doesn’t? That’s when rates spike. When both go up together? There’s opportunity. Anton notes,
On June 23rd, demand rose 7%, and supply kept pace. That’s a signal to negotiate lower spot prices, especially in a soft market.
For forwarders, this is where the index shines: helping identify whether carriers are actually releasing more capacity or tightening availability, especially on high-traffic lanes.
3. Bookings Index – Follow the Real Transaction Flow
Use case: Benchmark booking behavior, validate rate strategy, and compare with competitors.
This index doesn’t guess. It tracks real bookings made via WebCargo, providing a weekly view of forwarder booking activity per lane. Want to know if other forwarders are locking in space or holding back? The Bookings Index tells you exactly that.
Forwarders can use this to:
- Benchmark their own booking trends against the market
- Detect slowdowns or surges in confirmed cargo movements
- Optimize timing for rate quoting or contract negotiations
And because it’s normalized and anonymized, you get full market visibility – without ever compromising proprietary data.
4. Tonnage Index – Volume Tells the Real Story
Use case: Understand not just how many shipments are moving – but how much weight is behind them.
We all know a shipment isn’t just a booking – it’s 300 kilos or 3 tons of commitment. The Tonnage Index complements the Bookings Index by showing the total chargeable weight moving through a lane.
That means forwarders can:
- Detect when average shipment size is rising or falling
- Adjust allocations or expectations accordingly
- Avoid overcommitting when tonnage signals a tightening market
For example, if bookings hold steady but tonnage drops 65% (as happened during a recent volatility dip), you’ll know it’s not business as usual – and that’s your cue to act.
Four indexes. One dashboard. Real freight intel.
Catch the July Market Update to learn how FAX Pulse helps you act before the rate sheet does.
Designed for Real Decisions, Not Dashboard Vanity
What makes FAX Pulse different? It’s not a theoretical dataset built on surveys or “indicative” prices. These indexes are built directly from live platform activity:
- 4+ million air cargo price points
- Tens of thousands of weekly bookings
- Real-time quotes from 70+ airline APIs
It’s the difference between navigating with a GPS and flying blind.
Why This Matters for Forwarders
Digital forwarders already have access to more data than ever before. But here’s the kicker: Freightos’ latest Market Intelligence Report reveals that 98% of surveyed logistics pros say that freight market intelligence became more critical post-pandemic. And on a scale of 1 to 5, they rated the importance of staying updated at a rock-solid 4.5.
With FAX Pulse, WebCargo Terminal finally makes that intelligence actionable.
- See which direction your lane is heading, not just where it’s been
- Decide if today’s the right day to book or wait it out
- Back up your rate strategy with hard data
- Predict spot rate movements based on real supply-demand gaps
Who Gets What? Understanding Access Levels
Access will depend on your Terminal subscription level:
- Standard users will be able to view annual indexes only – great for high-level strategic benchmarking.
- Professional subscribers unlock both annual and quarterly indexes, offering more frequent snapshots of market dynamics.
- Enterprise users get the full package: weekly, quarterly, and annual indexes, enabling them to track fast-moving market changes in near real time.
The Takeaway: Rate Intelligence, Reimagined
Forwarders aren’t just booking space anymore – they’re pricing consultants, capacity managers, and strategy partners. FAX Pulse delivers the intel to support that role.
So whether you’re fending off margin erosion or trying to out-quote your competition, it’s time to upgrade your cockpit. And with the power of FAX Pulse at your fingertips, you’ll never be flying blind again.
