MarketPulse: Driver shortage remains key concern as industry outlook brightens

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Updated Nov 14, 2013

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The MarketPulse Report is a monthly survey of more than 200 senior executives a trucking companies who have agreed to participate. The September report received 100 completed responses from carrier executives.

The entire report is available here for $99. If you would like to participate in the MarketPulse, email CCJ Editor Jeff Crissey at [email protected].

Here are charts compiled from the MarketPulse responses:

Brighter days ahead? Fleet executives are optimistic about the next six months, with more than 50 percent of respondents in the September 2013 Randall-Reilly MarketPulse Report saying they anticipate business will be better or much better:

Which direction do you see business heading in the next 6 months?

Staffing up: Regardless of fleet size, the majority of carrier executives indicated plans to hire in the next six months:

staffing mp

Driver shortage remains key concern: Fleet executives are optimistic about the next six months, with more than 50 percent of respondents in the September 2013 Randall-Reilly MarketPulse Report saying they anticipate business will be better or much better:

MP chart 2

Carrier sentiment ticks up in September: As reported in the September 2013 edition of the MarketPulse Report, the Carrier Sentiment Index was 6.73 — up from the 6.30 reported in August. The index assesses the month on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the carrier’s worst month and 10 being the best. The index level for carriers with more than 100 power units was 6.80 (up from 6.38 in August), while the level for those with 100 or fewer power units was 6.59 (up from 6.10 in August):

carrier sentiment