Trucking Conditions Index

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Suffers Brief Drop in March as Expected

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index for March fell as expected due to the unprecedented surge in diesel prices, dropping to a reading of -1.11 after hitting a four-year high of 10.2 in February. The fact that the index was only slightly negative despite such a huge hit from fuel costs highlights the strength of freight-related factors, especially rates. The positive contribution from freight rates alone offset most of the impact of soaring fuel costs. The outlook remains solidly favorable for carriers.

Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, commented, “Carriers of all stripes are in store for a strong year from a rates perspective, but for much of the market, the recovery remains driven by the combination of very tight capacity and disruption. We are still skeptical that van freight will benefit much from volume growth, but the open deck sector is benefiting not only from very tight capacity but also from an ongoing surge in data center construction and a modest improvement in manufacturing output."

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This index represents five major conditions in the U.S. full-load truck market. These metrics are combined into a single index that tracks the market conditions that influence fleet behavior.

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FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Suffers Brief Drop in March as Expected