Economy

February 13, 2012 - Industry News

TransCore Index Shows Strength in Freight Volume and Rates

TransCore's North American Freight index marked a record high for the month of January, up 5% compared to January 2011. Month-over-month, January's spot market freight volume slipped 8% compared to December

Tags: Economy

February 9, 2012 - Industry News

Cass Index: Linehaul Rates Highest since 2005

The rise in linehaul rates leveled off a bit during January, according to the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, but nevertheless hit their highest point since the January 2005 date where the Cass Index data begins

Tags: Economy

February 9, 2012 - Industry News

Mexico Cargo Theft Increased 13% Year-Over-Year, Lower Than Normal

Above, a map of Mexico cargo theft incidents in 2011.

Total cargo thefts in Mexico rose 13% for the year, according to the FreightWatch International 2011 Mexico Cargo Theft Report

Tags: Economy

February 8, 2012 - Industry News

DOT Freight Index Shows Largest Monthly Hike in 17 Years

The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 3.9% in December from November, the largest monthly rise in 17 years, bringing the level of freight shipments to an all-time high, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' Freight Transportation Services Index

Tags: Economy

February 6, 2012 - Industry News

FTR Reports Preliminary Class 8 Orders for January

Preliminary data shows January Class 8 truck total net orders of 24,906 units for all major North American OEM's, according to FTR Associates

Tags: Economy

February 6, 2012 - Industry News

Cass Freight Index: Slight Decline in Freight Shipments, Expenditures Flat in January

January saw a slight decline in freight shipments compared to December, with freight expenditures essentially flat, according to January's Cass Freight Index Report.

Tags: Economy

February 3, 2012 - Industry News

January Commercial Vehicle Net Orders In Line with Expectations

North America medium and heavy-duty GVW Classes 5-7 and Class 8 commercial vehicle preliminary net orders for January were in line with expectations, reports ACT Research Co.

Tags: Economy

February 2, 2012 - Industry News

FTR's Trucking Conditions Index Continues Positive Trend

FTR's Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the February 2012 Trucking Update, increased in December to a reading of 7.0

Tags: Economy

January 31, 2012 - Industry News

Brace for a Slowdown in 2012

Truck production in 2012 could be lower than predicted because of downward revisions in GDP forecasts.

While fears of a double-dip recession are easing, GDP and industrial production numbers suggest 2012 will not be as robust as 2011. As recently as June, economists were predicting growth of 3 to 3.5 percent for 2012, but new consensus forecasts are calling for growth of just 2 to 2.5 percent. That one percentage point drop means we may need about 20,000 fewer new trucks this year

Tags: Economy

January 31, 2012 - Industry News

November Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico up 12.7% Year-over-year

Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was 12.7% higher in November 2011 than in November 2010, totaling $76.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation

Tags: Economy

January 27, 2012 - Industry News

Fourth Quarter Real GDP Increase Best Since 2Q 2010

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that real gross domestic product, the output of goods and services produced in the United States, increased at an annual rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2011

Tags: Economy

January 26, 2012 - Industry News

Report: Interest in Full-size Pickups Bodes Well for Economy

Increased interest in full-size pickup trucks is a positive indication that the economy is on the mend, according to the January issue of the New Car Insights Report. In addition to increased searches for several popular

Tags: Economy

January 26, 2012 - Industry News

December Used Truck Volumes Better than November, but Lag Year-over-Year

Reported volumes of used Classes 3-8 truck sales improved in December. Volumes were consistent among channels on a sequential basis

Tags: Economy

January 26, 2012 - Industry News

Trailer Industry Strong in 2011; Good Forecast for 2012

The commercial trailer sector finished 2011 on solid footing and is well-situated for the third year of growth in the current cyclical recovery

Tags: Economy

January 24, 2012 - Industry News

ATA Truck Tonnage Index Posts Largest Annual Gain in 13 Years

The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 5.9% over the previous year, the largest annual increase since 1998

Tags: Economy

January 20, 2012 - Industry News

Spot Freight Index Hits Third Year of Year-Over-Year Increases

TransCore's North American Freight Index was up 11% in December compared to the same month in 2010. This is the third consecutive year of increases in same-month spot market freight volume, which has reached the highest level since 2005

Tags: Economy

January 20, 2012 - Industry News

December Class 8 Orders Second Best in Six Months

Class 8 orders for the month of December bounced back from November's slump. Orders rose to 30,293 units, and, when seasonally adjusted, were the best since April, according to ACT Research

Tags: Economy

January 19, 2012 - Industry News

Cargo Theft Reaches Record High in 2011

Cargo theft rose nearly 9% last year compared to 2010, reaching a record high, according to FreightWatch International -- but the average value per theft has fallen

Tags: Economy

January 12, 2012 - Industry News

Forecast Predicts Hybrid, Electric Truck Sales Will Nearly Double in 2012

A forecast from Pike Research says that sales of hybrid and electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks will nearly double in 2012, but one industry expert thinks some of the numbers might be overly optimistic

Tags: Economy

January 11, 2012 - Industry News

Ceridian-UCLA Trucking Index Points to Healthy First of 2012 for Trucking

The fuel-purchase-based Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index (PCI), rose 0.2% in December after a 0.1% increase in November and a 1.1% increase in October

Tags: Economy

January 11, 2012 - Industry News

ACT: Class 8 Demand Remains Strong Despite Lackluster Economic Forecasts

ACT Research expects the pace of U.S. economic activity to operate at a rate of around 2% in 2012, according to the January issue of the ACT North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, published by ACT

Tags: Economy

January 11, 2012 - Industry News

Freight Shipments Up 0.1% from October to November

From October to November, the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.1% following a one month decrease, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)

Tags: Economy

January 11, 2012 - Industry News

November Shippers Conditions Index Favors Truckers

FTR Associates' Shippers Conditions Index for November dropped 2.5 points from the previous month to a reading of -6.1 reflecting the seasonal tightening of shipping capacity

Tags: Economy

January 10, 2012 - Industry News

TCP: Carriers Resist Adding Capacity on Poor ROI

Carrier won't be making significant equipment investments until they see the rate increases needed to recoup that investment, says TCP. (Photo by Jim Park)

The Transport Capital Partners (TCP) 4th Quarter 2011 Business Expectations Survey finds 73 percent of responding carriers will not be adding any significant capacity until rates improve, providing a better return on their investment

Tags: Economy

January 8, 2012 - Industry News

Cass Freight Index: Rate Increases Hold Despite Lack of Imminent Capacity Threat

Motor carriers and railroads were successful in passing along rate increases in 2011. For the most part, the rate hikes stuck, but carriers didn't gain any ground, they just kept pace with increasing costs

Tags: Economy