rates
Video: 2020 economic outlook for fleets and shippers
TORONTO, Ont. -- The economic pendulum has swung when it comes to setting trucking rates. Carriers are giving up some of the gains secured last year, particularly in the spot market. But other factors will continue to place pressure on rates in the year to come. Here were some of the related insights shared during the Surface Transportation Summit's presentation on the 2020 economic outlook.
Driver shortage is (economic) drag
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – When Canadian Trucking Alliance president Stephen Laskowski took his turn at the mic during the annual Surface Transportation Summit, he was quick to refer to trucks parked against fences along nearby Dixie Road. They’re not idled because of a lack of business opportunities, he stressed. It’s because of a lack of truck drivers.
Can the hot trucking market continue?
NEWPORT, R.I. – It is a good time to be in trucking in the U.S. The economy is strong, freight needs to move, and rates are on the rise. Eric Starks, the chairman and CEO of FTR, pointed to several indicators during a business symposium for Volvo dealers and customers. The ATA Tonnage Index and FTR Loadings Index, which track absolute freight levels, are both trending upward. The flatbed market in particular has been going “crazy”, in part because of increasing demand to move pipe and fracking sand, the latter of which is moved in boxes, he said. “It’s eating up a huge amount of capacity.” Everything from consumer spending to home sales are adding to the demand.
Everything is negotiable in ELD era
For years, I’ve been chuckling under my breath at transportation conferences whenever I hear shippers speak about how important it is to be “good business partners” with their carriers. Experience has shown me that once they walk off the stage, their actions tell another story. The “win-win” rhetoric gives way to “we win, you lose” when it comes time to work on a contract. That’s starting to change.
Freight volumes, rates to rise in ’18: Analysts
MISSISSAUGA, ON - The coming year appears to hold the promise of a growing economy, tighter capacity, and ultimately higher rates for those who haul freight. "When you have the economy doing reasonably well, transportation tends to be generally picking up," said Carlos Gomes, senior economist - Scotiabank, in a presentation during the Surface Transportation Summit in Mississauga, Ontario. He projects economic growth of about 2% in 2018, compared to the 3% seen in 2017. "The Canadian economy recently has been very strong," agreed Walter Spracklin, equity research analyst - transportation sector at RBC Capital Markets. But where railways have enjoyed higher volumes against the backdrop of recent growth, trucks didn't fare quite as well. Railway volumes surged in part because of the demand for fracking sand, feeding into the 6.5% boost in overall freight that moved over iron highways, he said. Intermodal freight volumes are growing as well, although grain volumes are likely to drop when compared to the strong crops of 2016. Of the Canadian railways, CN is seeing capacity tighten, leading to congestion challenges and a projected boost in capital spending.
Few trucking concerns around I-85 collapse: DAT
ATLANTA, GA - Crews are working to reopen I-85 in Atlanta by June 15, following a massive bridge fire that was once expected to close the route for several months. But DAT Solutions doesn't expect the structure's collapse to affect the trucking industry that much anyway.