TORONTO, ON —   Spot market freight volume fell in October from the month before and year earlier, according to new figures released by Transcore Link Logistics, based on its Loadlink load boards.

 Its Canadian Freight Index dipped in October, declining six percent from September. Year-over-year volume also fell 30 percent compared to 2014’s record breaking high for October.

Cross-border loads leaving Canada decreased 21 percent and loads coming into Canada declined 41 percent year-over-year. These volumes averaged 67 percent of the total data submitted by Loadlink’s Canadian-based customers.

Out of the cross-border loads heading into Canada, 60 percent were destined for Ontario, 19 percent went to Quebec, 18 percent headed to the Western Provinces and three percent ended up in the Atlantic Provinces.

This happed as inbound cross border trucks increased 34 percent and outbound equipment availability increased 20 percent.

Intra-Canada load volumes represented 28 percent of the total volumes and fell 26 percent year-over-year.

Of the total volumes of loads posted within Canada, the distribution was as follows:

• Loads into Western Canada increased to 38 percent, up from 32 percent in September
• Loads into Ontario decreased to 34 percent, down from 39 percent in September.
• Loads into Quebec decreased to 24 percent, down from 26 percent in September.
• Loads into Atlantic Canada increased to four percent, up from three percent in September.

The equipment capacity was higher in October, up by four percent month-over-month and 26 percent higher year-over-year.

The equipment-to-load ratio increased to 3.67 to 1 from 3.29 to 1 in September. Year-over-year, this ratio increased 80 percent from 2.03 to 1 in October 2014.

TransCore’s Canadian Freight Index meastures trends from roughly 5,000 of Canada’s trucking companies and freight brokers, and includes all domestic, cross-border and interstate data submitted by Loadlink’s customers.