FTR Trucking Index Reflects Improved Freight Growth

JOC Staff | Mar 14, 2013 1:50PM EDT

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index for January, published in its March 2013 Trucking Update, jumped 2.2 points from the previous month to a new reading of 10.6, reflecting improved freight growth and the expectation for tighter capacity.

The TCI is expected to continue at a high level as regulations affecting trucking utilization go into effect in mid-2013. Conditions through 2014 will remain in the “strongly positive territory,” as companies’ ability to raise rates in a tight capacity environment is likely, the Nashville, Ind.-based company said.

“While the sequester is now in effect, we have seen enough indications of an improving economy to expect a growing freight market in 2013,” said Jonathan Starks, director of transportation analysis for FTR, in a written statement. “As regulators impose the changes to hours-of-service rules in July, capacity will further tighten to levels not seen since 2004.”

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FMSCA Figures Show Improved Trucking Safety Record

ThinkStock.com

The number of large truck-involved fatal crashes declined by nearly one-third from 2007-2009, according to a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration statistical report.

The most recent fatality rates and numbers — which were quietly posted on FMCSA’s website last month — showed that crashes declined to 3,215, from 4,633.

It also said that number of large trucks in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled dropped in those same years from 1.32 to 1.12 — a downturn of 26%.

Fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled declined to 1.17 in 2009, from 1.59 in 2007.

Since 2000, the fatal crash rate for large trucks has fallen 54.5% - more than twice as much as the passenger vehicle fatal crash rate, which dropped just 25% in the same time period.

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Commercial trailer net orders improved in September

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- After recent lackluster performance, trailer order activity posted solid improvement in September, according to ACT Research Co. Net orders were up almost 31% month-over-month and 22% year-over-year. Supported by solid production and inventory reduction, total trailer factory shipments were up nearly 65% year-over-year in September.

"Production is still outpacing new order intake, despite the improvement in orders in September," said Frank Maly, director CV transportation analysis and research with ACT. "This is reducing the backlog. However, we cannot divorce ourselves from seasonality: orders are always weak and backlogs always fall through the third quarter. On a seasonally adjusted basis, total trailer backlogs have been virtually unchanged since May."

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