NASHVILLE, Ind. -- Conditions for shippers worsened in August, falling to a reading of -6.8 on FTR Associates’ Shippers Conditions Index (SCI). FTR officials said the decrease reflects a slowly tightening capacity environment for carriers and shippers. FTR officials say they expect the SCI to remain close to the current reading through the fourth quarter of this year.
‘Shipping costs, along with the ability to find capacity, will begin to grow worse in 2013 as economic conditions improve just as new Federal regulations affecting trucking are implemented,” FTR said in a release. “The SCI readings will reflect the added challenges facing shippers at that time.”
“Attendees at the recently concluded FTR Transportation Conference concurred that freight markets currently are mired in a sluggish but stable state. Disciplined carriers are therefore holding back on any capacity additions, setting the stage for tightening as conditions evolve through the early part of next year,” said Larry Gross, senior consultant for FTR. “Barring another significant stumble in the overall economy, we expect things to look substantially different a year from now.”
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Ok drivers, we’re looking at about 5 months away now from Christmas. Let’s not let these hard times get in the way of planning a wonderful holiday season. Even taking an empty coffee can and filling it up with your loose change, could make a big difference in buying nice presents. Start using cash more than your credit or debit card and the can will fill up faster than you think. You have 5 months to accumulate a nice stash of cash.
Santa, like the rest of us, has had his share of problems recently. I’ve written about it on Life On The Road before. Santa, again, see photo, can barely peddle that bike. Thousands of years of being cramped in the sleigh, the hours and hours of flying around the world delivering presents to girls and boys without a break – we all know about the closure of rest areas due to budget cuts – and all that chimney climbing has taken its toll on Santa’s knees. He is taking medication for his high blood pressure and diabetes, but has given up going to that clinic in Alaska for his official DOT physical. Much of Santa’s inventory now comes from China. His elves have gone from making stuff to unloading ocean containers.