BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Registration is open for the 2018 FTR Transportation Conference. The FTR conference, now in its 14th year, is being

CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more. FTR reports preliminary March trailer orders at 27,500, which reflect a typical seasonal decline, falling 16 percent from February. However, March’s trailer order

Carriers and shippers are adjusting to an environment where rising freight rates and a driver shortage are bumping up against an expected drop in capacity now that soft enforcement for truck drivers to record their on-duty status using electronic logging devices has ended, compelling the industry to work hard to prevent disruption in the movement of goods.

on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more. With capacity constrained, freight demand climbing and rates humming, FTR says market

Shippers gave railroads poor marks on its latest quarterly report card, a Cowen & Co. survey. More than 50 percent of shippers did not have a favorable review of service since January 1, as railroads struggled to handle the additional spillover freight from the US truck sector. Railroads blamed

should the economy kick into a higher gear. What’s more, FTR explained that while the first quarter is typically “a soft period for freight

Good Times Roll,' and the data is backing that up” -Jonathan Starks COO FTR In other news: New Jersey could lose $631M in federal cash by

cash to move into trucking shares. From FTR Transportation In FTR Transportation Intelligence’s 2018 Trucking Outlook presentation the

survey. Shippers, though, remain concerned about service levels. Carriers are in a different position. According to the latest FTR Trucking

level spot rates, freight demand remains elevated, and the economy continues to grow at a good pace," said Jonathan Starks, COO at FTR. "If

records. Earlier in April, FTR Transportation Intelligence reported that in March, orders for North American Class 8 trucks had surged 103%

U.S. trailer orders in March pushed ahead, reaching 27,500, research firm FTR reported, calling it a “stout month for trailer orders.” The

FTR reports preliminary March trailer orders are at 27,500 units, which reflects a typical seasonal decline but still is historically strong

on capacity, but that will be more of a factor this year. According to trucking data specialist FTR, active truckload capacity utilization

FTR expects mid- to upper single digit growth YOY for international container volumes, and 10% growth above seasonal trends for intermodal

has affected supply chains. According to data from transportation consultant FTR, the trucking industry was short about 248,000 drivers at

now, new truck and trailer orders have been running at historic highs. Just last week, FTR reported that Class 8 orders for March hit 46,300

“Transportation providers and warehousers are doing what they have to do just to meet the demand,” said Avery Vise, an analyst at transportation research firm FTR. “They’re scrambling to fill positions that are needed just to keep the economy moving.”

FTR Reports North American Class 8 Orders for March Third Highest Month on Record

Trucking companies ordered big rigs at a record pace in the first quarter, racing to meet growing demand in a red-hot U.S. freight market. Fleets ordered 133,900 heavy-duty trucks in the first three months of the year, nearly double the orders from the first quarter of 2017, analyst group FTR said