statistics

Carriers regain control of rate setting: report

ST. LOUIS, MO- The U.S. economy is on solid ground and bringing higher transportation costs, according to Rosalyn Wilson, supply chain expert and senior business analyst with the management services firm Parsons. "With carriers gaining more control over rates and capacity tightening, total freight spend in 2014 was higher than in any preceding year," Wilson said. "As long as capacity remains precariously balanced, we will continue to see a slow trend upwards." Parsons' Cass Freight Index, which measures trends in North American shipping activity based on $23 billion in paid freight expenses for hundreds of large shippers, showed shipment volumes and freight spending both dropped in January, but were at their highest level for the month in three years.