The TransCore Link Logistics Canadian Freight Index fell behind in November, following its traditional drop this time of year, with volumes declining eight percent compared to October. While year-over-year volumes also dropped 28 percent, this is compared to historic highs set throughout 2014.

Following an established seasonal pattern, spot market freight volume declined 15 percent in November, month over month, largely due to a drop in demand for flatbed trucks. Freight volume has declined in November in every year except 2012, according to the DAT North American Freight Index, which has recorded monthly spot market freight levels since 1997.

Even before the events in Paris on Friday Nov. 13, unrest in several geographic areas of the world has contributed to major disruption in the supply chain.

Spot market freight volume declined 9.7 percent in October, in a common seasonal pattern, according to the DAT North American Freight Index. Although volume fell below same-month levels of the past five years, total volume for the year to-date has exceeded the same period for every year prior to an atypical 2014.

The European road freight market grew by 2.9 percent in 2014, but markets there have distinctly different dynamics in both supply and demand, which means no single, cohesive European road freight market exists.