TORONTO, ON – TransCore Link Logistics reports that its Canadian and cross-border loads surged to the highest load levels of the year this May, while a 22% hike over April represented the biggest month-over-month increase in more than two years.

Year-over-year volumes were down 2% compared to this time last year.

“Year-over-year showed an improved market for distribution of loads within Canada and cross border for the month of May,” TransCore says. “In the past four months, year-over-year volumes within Canada and cross border picked up modestly with load levels leveling in May.”

TransCore’s Canadian Freight Index measures freight and equipment moves from roughly 5,500 Canadian trucking companies and freight brokers, and includes all domestic, cross-border and interstate data submitted by Loadlink customers.

Intra-Canada load volumes represented 25% of the May total, down 1% when compared to May 2015. Cross-border loads averaged 71% of the data submitted by Loadlink’s Canadian customers. Loads leaving Canada were down 4%, while those coming northbound were flat in year-over-year terms.

While the amount of posted equipment was flat compared to last month, they represent a 14% increase year over year, TransCore says. “For the first time in 10 months, the equipment-to-load ratio decreased to under three trucks for every load available, dropping to 2.84 from 3.47 in April. Year-over-year, this ratio increased from 2.53 in April 2015, representing a 19% change.”