Topic: Motor Freight

The combination of the fragile-but-improving overall U.S. economy and tighter enforcement of unsafe truck drivers is reigniting fears of truck capacity shortages later this year, top trucking officials and analysts are saying.

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) increased 0.9 percent in January, following a 1.5 percent gain in December and a 0.3 percent decline in November.

After two months of declining freight shipment levels, February showed some signs of growth, according to the most recent edition of the Cass Information Systems Freight Index.

With the calendar turning to March 1 today, we are now two-thirds of the way though the first quarter and are seeing some favorable trends so far, which will hopefully serve as a springboard to success for the rest of the year and beyond, when it comes to assessing the marketplace.

In 2010, easy annual comparisons to a troubled 2009 often paved the way for favorable data trends in the freight transportation sector. Based on recent data in TransCore’s TrendLines report, those comparisons for the trucking sector are still heading in the right direction early into 2011.

Following a decline in December freight shipments, the first month of 2011 continued that trend, according to the most recent edition of the Cass Information Systems Freight Index.

When FedEx announced it was redesigning its network structure for its less-than-truckload (LTL) network, FedEx Freight, last September, which officially went live today, there was one small detail regarding this news that flew somewhat under the radar. That detail was that the company said it planned to be more active on the intermodal side.

FedEx Freight, the market leader in the LTL (less-than-truckload) sector, is changing the way shippers move freight in the $28.5 billion LTL sector.

As was the case for most of 2010, annual improvements in spot market performance were prevalent. This was evidenced by data released by the TransCore North American Freight Index this week.

Earlier this week, less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services provider Con-way Freight announced it has introduced a new advanced load management and cargo protection system for its 16,800 freight trailer fleet in North America.

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) was down 0.3 percent in November, following a 0.2 percent October gain and a 1.0 percent September gain.

Freight volumes finished 2010 on a somewhat uneven growth path in December, according to the most recent edition of the Cass Information Systems Freight Index.

Regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services provider Southeastern Freight Lines (SEFL) said this week it is rolling out a new subsidiary focused on providing expedited service and multi-modal transportation services throughout the U.S.

Truck tonnage was essentially flat in November compared with October, according to data released by the American Trucking Associations. Following a cumulative 2.8 percent increase over September and October, the ATA’s advance seasonally-adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage index was down 0.1 percent in November.

Con-way Freight, the less-than-truckload (LTL) subsidiary of freight transportation and logistics services provider Con-way, said this week that it has begun construction on a new service center in San Antonio, Texas. The new location will be comprised of 105 doors, 41,500 square feet, and 30 acres

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that its Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) was up 0.2 percent in October, following a1.0 percent gain in September and a 0.6 percent August decline.

The company said it has reduced transit times in more than 500 lanes connecting Toronto and Montreal to dozens of cities and regions in the United States. And it added that these efforts will enable cross-border LTL shippers to achieve various improvements in their supply chains.

The November edition of the Cass Information Systems Index pointed to an uptick in freight growth following a decline in October. The index, which measures the number of shipments and expenditures that are processed through Cass’s account payable systems, has been up in seven of the last nine months.

As has been the case in recent months, the spot market continues to post impressive gains on an annual basis, according to data from the TransCore North American Freight Index.

The trucking industry could lose significant capacity as more drivers are facing disqualification as the federal government initiates tough safety standards in December and truly rolls them out during 2011. That’s because the federal government is poised to launch the toughest safety crackdown on the estimated 3 million long-haul truck drivers and 800,000 carriers in the history of the industry.