TORONTO, Ont. — Ontario carriers are reporting lower freight volumes and rates through the first part of 2015, however they remain relatively upbeat about business conditions.

That’s according to the Ontario Trucking Association’s (OTA’s) Q2 business conditions survey. The survey found expectations going forward remain buoyant despite recent freight market weakness on both sides of the border, as well as unprecedented costs.

Freight Volumes

Intra-Ontario freight volumes took a steep tumble as nearly half of the carriers reported volume increases in the previous three months compared to carriers in the 4Q 2014 survey (25% from 47%). It’s the first time in 18 months that less than 30% of carriers reported volume improvements, the OT reports.

Sixty-seven per cent of carriers reported no change. Intra-provincially, 36% of carriers indicated increased volumes, nearly half of the 60% who said the same thing exactly a year ago. OTA says the year-to-year drop isn’t so surprising considering last winter’s volumes in early 2014 were inflated as a result of deferred bad weather-related shipments. That said, early indications of a “spring peak” season don’t appear to be reflected in these responses.

US southbound volumes also slid as only 27% of carriers reported increases, compared to 55% and 65% of carriers in the last two surveys. That mark is the lowest since 4Q13 and the first back-to-back drop since 2Q13. Northbound US volumes were relatively unchanged from the last survey. The OTA says that, like in Canada, the sharp downturn could indicate a return to normalcy during what’s traditionally a slow opening quarter, but it’s also true that the US economy slowed to a crawl with GDP growth receding to 0.2% in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 2.2% consistently throughout most of 2014.

Perhaps another sign that recently depressed volumes aren’t immediately alarming to carriers is that their expectations don’t appear to have been significantly dampened going forward. Within Ontario, the projection that volumes would be improving over the next six months was expressed by 54% of carriers – up from 29% in the last survey and in line with the 63% from this time last year.

Not a single respondent thinks volumes will decline, according to the survey. Intra-provincially, 50% predict volume escalation – up from 40% from 4Q14, but down 20 points from a year ago. Interestingly, the sudden drop experienced in recent southbound volumes isn’t reflected in carriers’ outlook for the balance of 2015 as 50% expect increases and 45% say levels will stay balanced. Only 5% thought volumes would continue to plunge. The rate of carriers that expect increases in northbound US was down more than half (33% to 14%). Seventy-three per cent said things should remain unchanged in this lane.

Rates

Lower expectations for pricing within Canada reflected the softened volumes of the last three months, but the decline was comparatively modest and near-term rate expectations remain in line with the recent trend of robust pricing, the OTA survey found.

Within Ontario, 33% expect rate hikes over the next six months – 12 points lower than the record high of 4Q14 (45%) but still the second highest ever recorded. Intra-provincially, the number of carriers forecasting higher rates fell from 47% to 36%, which is still three times more than those who said the same in 4Q13.

US  lanes painted to a different picture. Despite economic stagnation south of the border to start the year, a majority (55%) of Ontario carriers actually said southbound U.S. rates are set to rise – 10 points higher than the previous survey and almost double of 4Q13. Those who think rates will sink only increased from 3% to 10%. For northbound, 41% also expect increases (+6%), tied for the highest level in three years.

Capacity

According to respondents, there isn’t going to be any relief in capacity anytime soon. A meager 8% of carriers think capacity will increase – a 19-point drop from 4Q14 and the lowest ever recorded by OTA.

Meanwhile, 38% said capacity would tighten (+9%) while 54% expect no change. Over the next six months, again, a record-low of 8% expect a boost in capacity with 42% predicting less availability. Once again, despite the crunch, there’s little change in shippers’ willingness to lock in capacity by lengthening contract timeframes (only 16%). Meanwhile, a majority (56%) of carriers continue to say they plan to add drivers in the short-term, although the rate has hardly budged below or beyond the 45-60 per cent window for nearly two years.

Carrier costs

Although the business of trucking has been relatively buoyant since the end of 2012, carriers continue to struggle to keep up with rising costs, the OTA reports.

It’s apparent the added emission controls and safety technology in new generation trucks has propelled prices upward since 2010. But in this survey, likely as a result of the widened gap between the CDN and US dollars, a whopping 24% of carriers said purchase prices have jumped by 20% or more – the first time ever respondents reported more than a single-digit increase in equipment costs.

Sixty-two per cent cited purchase prices in the 5-15% range. Also, 83% of carriers report higher maintenance costs as equipment becomes more technically complicated and expensive to fix. Meanwhile, in a bid to retain and attract more truck drivers, fleets also continue to raise wages. For the first time, every carrier surveyed reported giving raises to drivers (92% indicated 2-5% increases and 8% saying they increased wages by 10% or more).

Top Concerns

The driver shortage prevails as the top concern for carriers (50%, down from 55%). Capacity/rates was the second-highest reason for concern (38%, up from 21%). Only 13% stated the economy was their number one reason for alarm, a fraction of the 50% of carriers who expressed anxiety over markets at the end of 2012.