Trucking conditions improving at a steady pace: FTR

by Truck News

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index went up from July  to August to a reading of 6.76.

According to FTR, the index is showing a steady rise that is expected to continue in the new year as regulations are tightened up capacity. As well, FTR noted that the improvement is largely from the supply side, as currently the economy and freight markets are in a slow growth phase with unclear direction typical of a late recovery environment. The TCI is expected to peak in early 2018.

“The July and August increases in the Trucking Conditions Index were led by positive changes in capacity utilization and fuel prices,” Jonathan Starks, chief operating officer at FTR,  said. “Fuel prices look to have stabilized during the fall and are unlikely to have a big impact on transportation markets until oil prices move substantially away from $50 per barrel. Also, despite the weak reports from the public TL carriers, utilization of the overall fleet is showing some moderate improvement. This trend is likely to be subdued until mid-2017 when we get close to the implementation data for electronic logging devices. The third quarter is likely to be the nadir for weak reports, and we should begin to see economic improvement, easier year-over-year comparisons, and better overall market conditions as capacity tightens up due to regulations. Spot market conditions are beginning to affirm this, with the dry van market on Truckstop.com showing positive year-over-year comparisons for both load volumes and rates.”

ftr-tci-august


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*