Indicators: ‘Trucking conditions’ sag for carriers, but growth is near, analyst says

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Updated Dec 13, 2016

CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more.


oimgMarket conditions for trucking companies, as measured by FTR’s monthly Trucking Conditions Index, worsened in October, FTR reported Dec. 12. However, the index is likely nearing its bottom, FTR says, and carriers should be better conditions in the coming year.

“Despite the pullback in the October TCI there is sufficient evidence in the marketplace to indicate a turnaround is in the works for truckers,” says FTR COO Jonathan Starks.

Starks cites the recent gains in the spot market in freight and truckload rates, as well as a decrease in industry capacity.

“The biggest unknown is the impact of ELDs on the marketplace in 2017,” he says. “If regulations are delayed or expunged, the impact of 2017 will be muted and pricing won’t be as strong as expected. However, the market is already showing a positive shift, and the negative pricing of the last two years is unlikely to last much longer.”