The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 3.6% in January from December, declining after five consecutive monthly increases, according to the DOT’s Freight Transportation Services Index.
The Freight TSI, released by the U.S. DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.
The level of freight shipments measured by the Freight TSI, 109.7, declined from the all-time high of 113.7 set one month earlier in December.
The results aren’t surprising, after the American Trucking Associations reported that its For-Hire Truck Tonnage index also fell in January, by 4% after surging 6.4% in December 2011.
Trend: The DOT says shipments in January 2012 (109.7) were at the second highest level since July 2008 despite the 3.6% decline from December 2011, which was the highest level in the 22-year history of the series. After dipping to a recent low in April 2009 (94.3), freight shipments increased in 23 of the past 33 months, increasing 16.3% during that period.
Index highs and lows: Freight shipments in January 2012 (109.7 on the index) rose 16.3% from the recent low in April 2009 (94.3). In April 2009, freight shipments were at their lowest level since June 1997 (92.3).
Long-term trend: Freight shipments are up 1.2% in the five years from January 2007 and up 11.1% in the 10 years from January 2002 despite declines in recent years.
Printer Friendly Version
Email This Story
RSS
Economy: Related News
3/16/2012 – DOT Says Freight Shipments Fell 3.6% in January from Record December
The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 3.6% in January from December, declining after five consecutive monthly increases, according to the DOT’s Freight Transportation Services Index….
More
3/15/2012 – Pulse of Commerce Index Increased 0.7% in February
The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index rose 0.7% in February, but it was not enough to offset the 1.7% decline in the previous month….
More
3/15/2012 – Retail Trends and What They Mean for Trucking
Changes in the retail supply chain could spell benefits for some kinds of trucking, according to experts at the 2012 Stifel Nicolaus Consumer Conference last week in New York….
More
3/13/2012 – FTR Shippers Conditions Index Relatively Flat Month-Over-Month
FTR Associates‘ Shippers Conditions Index for January remained basically unchanged from the previous month with a reading of negative 4.8….
More
3/13/2012 – Retail Container Traffic Expected to Increase 10% in March
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 10% in March compared with the same month last year. Year-over-year gains should continue through mid-summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates….
More
3/13/2012 – ACT: Truck Buying Cycle Peak Moved to 2014
ACT Research has shifted its long-term forecast for the commercial vehicle industry. The cycle peak in 2013 has been adjusted, with stronger demand now stretching through 2014,…
More
3/12/2012 – FTR: Trucking Industry to Fare Adequately in 2012, Oil Prices Will Fall
FTR Associates says the outlook for the 2012 trucking industry is fair. In FTR’s “State of Freight” webinar late last week, analysts addressed the overall economy as well as specifics about trucking and oil, a particularly hot topic because of climbing prices….
More
3/7/2012 – Cass Freight Index Report: Shipping Picks Up Post Holiday Season
In a reversal of a very long trend, the month-to-month change in freight movements in February was greater than that of expenditures, reports the February 2012 Cass Freight Index Report….
More
3/6/2012 – FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Expected to Climb in 2012
In spite of a reading of 6.1 for January’s Trucking Conditions Index, FTR Associates forecasts a slow climb to strongly positive territory for trucking throughout 2012, with volumes and profits sufficient for investment for growth by year’s end….
More
3/5/2012 – Commercial Vehicle Orders Still Healthy in February
Two companies that track commercial vehicle sales say truck orders were down in February, but they’re still continuing at a relatively healthy level….
More
3/2/2012 – CV Parts Aftermarket Leading Indicator Increases in January
A new industry index that tracks aftermarket parts rose slightly in January. Commercial Motor Vehicle Consulting’s new CV Aftermarket Parts Leading Indicator increased 0.03% in January to 104.70 (January 2001=100) following a 0.01% decrease in December (104.67) and a 0.61% increase in November (104.68)….
More
2/29/2012 – December Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico up 11.6% Year Over Year
Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 11.6% higher in December 2011 than in December 2010, totaling $74.2 billion,…
More
2/28/2012 – Used Truck Prices Up in January as Volumes Slip
Used Class 8 truck price appreciation was prevalent in January sales in the retail and wholesale channels, according to ACT Research….
More
2/27/2012 – ACT Research: Trailer Orders Strong in January
January trailer net orders dropped from December to 26,000 units, but they were the strongest orders for the first month of the year since 2006, according to ACT Research.…
More
2/22/2012 – 2011 New Truck Registrations up 23% from 2010
New commercial vehicle registrations for Class 3-8 vehicles for 2011 numbered 460,948 units, an 23.3% increase 373,975 units in 2010, according to Polk‘s Quarterly Commercial Vehicle Report….
More
2/21/2012 – TransCore’s January North American Freight Index Up 5%
TransCore’s North American Freight Index was up 5% in January compared to the same month in 2011. This is the third consecutive year of increases in same-month spot market freight volume and marks a record high for the month of January….
More
2/20/2012 – Vieth: Economy Improving, Driver Shortage Looming
The good news is, there’s a capacity shortage in the industry, so you should be making money. The bad news is, finding drivers is going to cost you some of that money….
More
2/17/2012 – ACT Research Confident About Class 8 Demand
ACT Research Co. remains bullish on Class 8 in the medium to longer term, according to the February issue of the ACT North American Commercial Vehicle Outlook, published by ACT Research….
More
2/15/2012 – December Shippers Conditions Index Improves Month-Over-Month
FTR Associates‘ Shippers Conditions Index for December edged up roughly 1.5 points from November to a reading of -4.6, which still reflects a somewhat adverse environment for shippers….
More
2/14/2012 – TransCore Index Shows Strength in Freight Volume and Rates
TransCore‘s North American Freight index marked a record high for the month of January, up 5% compared to January 2011. Month-over-month, January’s spot market freight volume slipped 8% compared to December….
More
2/10/2012 – Mexico Cargo Theft Increased 13% Year-Over-Year, Lower Than Normal
Total cargo thefts in Mexico rose 13% for the year, according to the FreightWatch International 2011 Mexico Cargo Theft Report….
More
2/10/2012 – Cass Index: Linehaul Rates Highest since 2005
The rise in linehaul rates leveled off a bit during January, according to the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, but nevertheless hit their highest point since the January 2005 date where the Cass Index data begins….
More
2/9/2012 – DOT Freight Index Shows Largest Monthly Hike in 17 Years
The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 3.9% in December from November, the largest monthly rise in 17 years, bringing the level of freight shipments to an all-time high, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Freight Transportation Services Index….
More
2/7/2012 – FTR Reports Preliminary Class 8 Orders for January
Preliminary data shows January Class 8 truck total net orders of 24,906 units for all major North American OEM’s, according to FTR Associates….
More
2/7/2012 – Cass Freight Index: Slight Decline in Freight Shipments, Expenditures Flat in January
January saw a slight decline in freight shipments compared to December, with freight expenditures essentially flat, according to January’s Cass Freight Index Report. …
More
2/6/2012 – January Commercial Vehicle Net Orders In Line with Expectations
North America medium and heavy-duty GVW Classes 5-7 and Class 8 commercial vehicle preliminary net orders for January were in line with expectations, reports ACT Research Co. …
More
2/3/2012 – FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Continues Positive Trend
FTR‘s Trucking Conditions Index, as reported in the February 2012 Trucking Update, increased in December to a reading of 7.0….
More
2/3/2012 – Fleet Sentiment Report Buying Index Rises 4+ Points from Previous Quarter
More fleets are planning to buy trailers, driving the First Quarter Fleet Sentiment Report Buying Index from CK Commercial Vehicle Research up 4.6 points from the previous quarter to a reading of 93.9….
More
2/1/2012 – Brace for a Slowdown in 2012
While fears of a double-dip recession are easing, GDP and industrial production numbers suggest 2012 will not be as robust as 2011. As recently as June, economists were predicting growth of 3 to 3.5 percent for 2012, but new consensus forecasts are calling for growth of just 2 to 2.5 percent. That one percentage point drop means we may need about 20,000 fewer new trucks this year….
More
2/1/2012 – November Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico up 12.7% Year-over-year
Trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was 12.7% higher in November 2011 than in November 2010, totaling $76.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation….
More