FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index shows modest signs of improvement

The new edition of the Shippers Conditions Index, which was recently issued by freight transportation consultancy FTR, remained on an uneven path.

FTR describes the SCI as an indicator that sums up all market influences that affect the transport environment for shippers, with a reading above zero being favorable and a reading below being unfavorable and a “less-than-ideal environment for shippers.”

For March, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 0.1, which FTR said was, “basically neutral territory,” following a -0.3 February reading. The January SCI was 0.6 and was preceded by October’s 1.3 reading, that fell from September’s 4.6 reading. The August SCI was 2.9, with July at 0.5; June at 0.3; May at 4.5, and June at 3.0—which was preceded by several months of declines.

FTR explained that falling diesel rates and slightly less challenging utilization offset stronger volumes and less favorable rates to create basically neutral market conditions in March.

“Uncertainty over tariffs is a risk for the economy, but an expected sluggishness in the freight market in the near term should bring some benefits to shippers in terms of fluidity and pricing,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “The longer-term consequences are less clear, however. For example, one consequence of a sharp drop in freight volume might be loss of trucking capacity, which could lead to a tighter market in 2026. Another issue to watch is whether stricter enforcement of truck drivers’ English language skills results is a meaningful hit to the supply of drivers.”