Indicators

Trailer demand surges to record highs
Lower trailer build rates and a jump in end-of-year factory shipments caused inventory levels to drop by 18% month-over-month.
January 27, 2023
lineup of dry van trailers
Truck tonnage ticked up to close out 2022
ATA reported truck tonnage was up slightly in December, while tonnage for the year increased 3.4% over 2021. Also: Shippers' conditions on the rise; California fleet orders 15 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell trucks; Xcell Logistics opens new Texas warehouse.
January 26, 2023
ATA Truck Tonnage Index December 2022
Supply chain correction helps put the 'worst of the inflation crisis behind us'
The price of lumber is down by roughly two-thirds over the last year, not far from its five-year average. Brent crude too, has fallen by roughly one-third since last summer along with shipping costs. Why? The supply chain adapts and overcomes.
January 18, 2023
truck hauling a container
Trucking conditions, while improved, remained negative in November
FTR's Trucking Conditions Index showed slight improvement in November. Also: Schneider gets eCascadia in SoCal intermodal operations; FMCSA denies driver's HOS exemption request; Mack unveils refreshed Granite model; Estes opens new Texas terminal.
January 19, 2023
FTR Trucking Conditions Index November 2022
Report forecasts 'surprising' strength in LTL freight for early 2023
Carriers are competing for more limited demand while searching for ways to claw back revenue.
January 18, 2023
pallet jacks in a warehouse
Rates end 2022 on a high note, signaling 'bottoming process' underway
While market conditions remain broadly loose, there are increasingly signs of slowing supply – a key to the bottoming process, according to experts.
January 17, 2023
Trucks at the dock
FTR: Number of carriers will continue to fall as economy cools
“What is likely to happen is that we’re going to have some capacity loss,” Vise says. “As we lose drivers from these carriers that are failing, that is likely to be a driver population that we will lose.”
January 12, 2023
FTR Transportation Intelligence Logo
Truck orders end 2022 on sour note, but 'a solid end to a robust final four months of the year'
Large truck orders ended the year down 21% from November but up 25% from last December. Orders for the past 12 months total 302,000 units.
January 10, 2023
truck chassis spray paint
Trucking conditions fall to lowest point since April 2020
Sharp increases in fuel and financing costs in October drove FTR's Trucking Conditions Index to its lowest point since the beginning of COVID. Also: Wyoming propane haulers get HOS relief; Volvo, Daimler issue recalls
December 20, 2022
FTR October 2022 Trucking Conditions Index
Truck orders tumble off record highs but 'resilient'
OEMs having opened their orderboards for 2023 more broadly, and ongoing pent-up demand — with tailwinds from strong carrier profitability and elevated fleet age — is keeping truck orders stoked.
December 6, 2022
truck assembly
Trucking equipment demand high despite booming interest rates
Carrier profits are the critical element in vehicle demand, and while profits next year are anticipated to be lower truckload net margins are projected to be the fourth best on record.
December 6, 2022
red truck on the road
Tesla's Musk says Semi passes 500-mile, 81K test
With just days until initial deliveries begin, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric Semi can do 500 miles at 81,000 pounds. Also: Averitt Express expands; ACT Research believes the rate bottoming process is underway; ATRI seeks input on predatory towing.
November 29, 2022
Tesla Semi truck
Trucking conditions tumbled in September
Rising fuel prices, weak rates and rising inflation led to a drop in trucking conditions in September, according to FTR. Also: Autonomous trucking firm Waabi unveils self-driving tech; Atlas Van Lines names new president and COO.
November 18, 2022
FTR Trucking Conditions Index September 2022
Trucking in 2023: Recession uncertain, driver shortage shows balance
A recent CCJ webinar, sponsored by Bestpass, discussed the market forces, business conditions and supply chain issues that will impact carrier operations in 2023.
November 11, 2022
CCJ webinar participants
Truck orders continue to reflect fleets' thirst for newer trucks
Pent-up replacement demand remains in the market thanks to a complicated new truck production cycle that has limited many fleets from replacing aged equipment for the past two years.
November 4, 2022
Kenworth truck assembly line
Diesel fuel supply 'vulnerably stable,' widespread shortage unlikely
The Energy Information Administration announced last week that distillate levels are at their lowest point since 2008, but that was coming out of peak demand, and we're currently headed into increased demand.
November 1, 2022
trucks at a fuel island
U.S. economy going into a recession 'early next year'
Experts agree the likelihood of a recession early next year is high but they expect it to be short and mild, and underlying indicators suggest it might not be that bad for trucking.
October 27, 2022
Pictured are Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation and American Trucking Associations Vice Chairman; Bob Costello American Trucking Associations chief economist and senior vice president; and MUFG Securities Americas Managing Director, Global Head of Investment Banking Capital Markets Strategy, Tom Joyce.
FTR's Eric Starks offers positive outlook for trailer sector at NTDA Convention
Business might not feel as great today as it did 12 months ago, but that doesn’t mean a recession is underway. And even one does arrive in 2023, Starks said FTR data indicates the trailer market should still be healthy in the months and years to come.
October 13, 2022
FTR Chairman and CEO Eric Starks
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ATA President and CEO Chris Spear
Regulations
ATA's Spear talks congestion, driver shortage, more at Congressional hearing
ATA President and CEO was on a panel of industry reps during a hearing Wednesday of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Spear outlined some of trucking's biggest headwinds, including highway congestion, parking and more.
Freightliner SuperTruck II
Trucks
Freightliner debuts second SuperTruck
FirstFleet trailers
CCJ Innovators
FirstFleet creates nextgen in-cab driver experience
Mechanic tearing down an engine
Maintenance
Trucksmiths embracing change
door sticker drivers wanted
Pay and benefits
Pay a top factor for driver turnover but 'not always an amount issue'
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