Here are the key findings from the April 2018 CCJ MarketPulse survey:
- Carrier sentiment for business conditions in April 2018 was 7.63, up slightly from March 2018 (7.56). The sentiment discrepancy by fleet size widened in April, with respondents with up to 100 power units rating April at 6.78, while respondents from fleets with more than 100 power units rated April at 7.96.
- While still positive, month-over-month business conditions in April 2018 leveled off compared to recent surveys, with 42.2% of all respondents saying it was better than March 2018. 71.8% of survey respondents forecast even better business conditions in the next six months (66.7% of those with up to 100 power units and 73.9% of those with more than 100 power units); no respondents expect business conditions to worsen.
- 2% of respondents from fleets with up to 100 power units and 76.1% of respondents from fleets with more than 100 power units plan to add full-time employees in the next six months.
- 4% of all respondents plan to increase the size of their fleets in the next six months (52.2% of respondents with more than 100 power units and 38.9% of respondents with up to 100 power units). Only 1.6% of all respondents plan to decrease fleet size, while 35.9% expect to replace aging equipment while maintaining current fleet size.
- Driver availability is the top concern for 90.6% of all respondents, well-outpacing fuel costs and costs of labor, each at 3.1%.
Click here to download the full April 2018 CCJ MarketPulse report.
