Shippers Conditions’ dip due to rail rates, fuel pricing

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

Market conditions for shippers — often an inverse of those for carriers — slipped some in April after steadily improving in the months prior, according to FTR‘s most recent Shippers Conditions Index report.

However, the dip is due to stronger rates for rail service and higher fuel prices in April, rather than conditions related to trucking, FTR says, with the firm projecting that, through the rest of the year, conditions for shippers should improve.

“Shippers should continue to expect favorable conditions and an ability to easily get freight placed in the market,” said Todd Tranausky, FTR’s vice president of rail and intermodal. “They will be aided by the relatively stable fuel prices through most of the rest of 2019 and somewhat slowing rail freight volumes.”