FTR's Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the December Trucking Update, declined to a reading of 3.4 in October.  The environment for truckers as measured by the TCI softened primarily due to further delay in the issuance of revised Hours of Service regulations.  This is affecting the near-term outlook for capacity and therefore the current ability of carriers to gain rate increases.  The TCI is projected to increase as capacity conditions tighten, but the peak has been moved back from April to October of next year, reflecting the regulatory delay.  The Trucking Conditions Index is a compilation of factors affecting trucking companies and has remained in positive territory for the past eight months. Any reading above zero indicates an adequate trucking environment with readings above 10 a sign that volumes, prices and margin are in a good range for trucking companies.

Larry Gross, senior consultant for FTR, said, "There was a considerable drop of six points in the TCI in October.  Some of this drop was a result of changes in our methodology for calculating the TCI as we continue to refine this measurement.  Although October's TCI reflected the rather subdued nature of the Fall peak at that point in time, the recent strong start to the holiday shopping season combined with retailers' lean inventories cause us to believe that the TCI will soon resume climbing even in the absence of near-term changes in federal regulations.  The addition of any such changes, now expected to be announced by year-end, will exacerbate the trend."

The Trucking Update, published monthly, is part of FTR's Freight Focus Series and reports data that directly impacts the activity and profitability of truck fleets.

Source: FTR Associates