TORONTO, Ont. — TransCore’s Link Logistics Canadian Freight Index has rebounded from February’s low levels with a 24% increase in month-over-month volume in March. Year-over-year volume remained behind March 2012 levels by 11%.

First-quarter volume surpassed the previous quarter by 10%, and was well above the recessionary levels seen for the first quarter of 2009 by 73%. Volume was 6% lower compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Overall load volumes for cross-border postings and intra-Canada postings averaged at 69% and 27% respectively of the data submitted by Loadlink’s Canadian-based customers. Cross-border loads destined for provinces within Canada were down 20% year-over-year compared to March 2012. However, cross-border loads from Canada to the US revealed a 7% increase year-over year.

The month-over-month and year-over-year equipment postings each displayed a 2% increase for the month of March. Although load volumes showed double-digit quarter-over-quarter improvement, equipment postings dropped by 4% compared to the previous quarter. The equipment to load ratio for March improved substantially to 2.08 from 2.52 of the previous month, according to TransCore.