Business Management Trucking conditions pull back from record high January 15, 2021 Trucking conditions deteriorated in November from a record high, according to the latest FTR Trucking Conditions Index (TCI). The November reading of 10.26 remains strong, as rising freight rates feed…
Business Management Continued capacity tightness, higher rates expected in ’21 January 14, 2021 It’s a tale of two economies in 2021. The good news for trucking is that the goods economy will outpace the overall economy, and with no quick end to capacity…
Transportation Index records ‘big swing’ for trucking December 21, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A Trucking Conditions Index recorded by the industry analysts at FTR has hit record levels just six months after hitting its lowest reading. The October reading of…
Business Management Increased freight, tight capacity to provide trucking tailwinds in 2021 December 14, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Freight growth exceeded expectations in the third quarter, and the picture for 2021 is improving, according to industry forecasters from FTR. Providing a 2021 market outlook last…
Equipment ECONOMIC WATCH: Class 8 orders surge on renewed fleet optimism November 4, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Class 8 orders surged to 40,100 units in October, marking the first month over 40,000 since October 2018. Preliminary data from FTR showed orders up 26% from…
Business Management ECONOMIC WATCH: Shipper conditions worst in two years October 22, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – U.S. shippers faced their toughest conditions in two years in August, according to FTR’s latest Shippers Conditions Index (SCI). The index fell into negative territory with a…
Business Management ECONOMIC WATCH: Trucking conditions were strong in August October 9, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) jumped to a 8.31 reading in August, reflecting a very favorable rate environment for trucking. August marked the second highest reading since…
Business Management ECONOMIC WATCH: Renewed fleet confidence fueling stronger Class 8 truck demand October 5, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Fleet confidence has returned in the form of strengthening Class 8 truck orders, which surged in September to 32,000 units according to preliminary data from FTR. That’s…
Business Management Commercial vehicle market rebounded sharply, but full recovery not imminent September 28, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The commercial vehicle market bounced back much more quickly and strongly than expected, but it will be late 2021 before it reaches pre-pandemic levels. During an FTR…
Business Management ECONOMIC WATCH: Shippers’ conditions deteriorate as rates swing in carriers’ favor September 24, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Shippers’ conditions deteriorated in July, falling into negative territory for the first time since August 2018, FTR reports. The FTR Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) recorded a -0.36…
Business Management ‘Old school’ disruption shakes trucking industry September 11, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Society and industry have come to think of disruption as a positive change associated with innovation, but what the trucking industry is experiencing now is “old school”…
Business Management ECONOMIC WATCH: Trucking conditions remained favorable in July September 10, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – U.S. trucking conditions remained positive through July, as the economic recovery continued and carriers enjoyed strengthening freight rates. FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index read 2.84 in July, down…
Equipment ECONOMIC WATCH: Class 8 orders continued climb in August September 2, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Class 8 truck orders continued to climb in August, according to preliminary data from FTR, totaling 20,500 units. Numbers were up 3% from July and 90% from…
Equipment ECONOMIC WATCH: Fleets’ ‘renewed confidence’ reflected in trailer orders August 18, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – U.S. trailer orders reached their highest level of the year in July, at 19,300 units, according to FTR. July order activity was up 33% from June and…
Business Management Predicting the Unpredictable: Attempting to plot out the economic recovery August 14, 2020 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The sudden, devastating economic collapse caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was so unprecedented, that even seasoned economists admit it’s difficult to predict what the recovery will look…
