Nashville, IN (July 18, 2011) FTR Associates’ Shippers’ Condition Index (SCI) has moved upward again this month, signifying improving conditions for shippers. The current SCI as reported in the firm’s July Shippers Update rose to a reading of -3.6 from the -5.4 reported last month.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, IN (July 18, 2011) FTR Associates’ Shippers’ Condition Index (SCI) has moved upward again this month, signifying improving conditions for shippers. The current SCI as reported in the firm’s July Shippers Update rose to a reading of -3.6 from the -5.4 reported last month. While the negative SCI reading indicates that overall conditions are still viewed as unfavorable from the standpoint of the shipper, the situation is considerably less acute than it was earlier this year. However, assuming the rate of growth in the economy improves as expected in the second half of the year, the SCI is projected to deteriorate once again as growing freight demand strains carrier capacity. The SCI sums up all market influences that affect shippers; a reading above zero suggests a favorable shipping environment, while a reading below zero is unfavorable.
Larry Gross, Senior Consultant for FTR commented on the expectations for their Shippers Conditions Index going forward, “The improvement in the SCI must be regarded as a mixed bag in that it is the result of tepid demand from shippers and therefore is a product of the current softness in the economy. While most shippers are currently seeing sufficient capacity to haul their goods, this will soon begin to change. Truckload rates will begin to move upward again during the fall shipping season, and are expected to rise dramatically in 2012 as new regulations are implemented putting a drag on the entire trucking segment. Of course, all of these projections would be thrown into question in the event of a failure in the Federal debt ceiling negotiations or some other external shock to the economy.”
The July Shippers Update includes commentary discussing the timing of freight rate increases relative to tightening capacity. For more information about how to subscribe to the Shippers Update, send an e-mail to sales@ftrassociates.com or call 888-988-1699 ext. 1.
The Shippers Update, launched by FTR Associates during 2010 as a part of the firm’s Freight Focus Series, looks at conditions that will affect the cost and efficiency of shipping goods via all transportation modes. North American shippers will find in one reference the essential information they need on freight volumes, equipment capacity and transport costs and rates. The Shippers Update has both history and forecasts for four modal options: truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal and rail carload. The analysis includes the breakdown of total truck and rail volumes into major commodity segments. It also provides historical snapshots of inland water and air freight markets. The freight data is augmented by an abundant collection of supporting data covering macro-economics and the fuel market.
FTR Associates, located in Nashville, IN, has been a leader in transportation forecasting for over 20 years. The company’s U.S. Freight Model collects and analyzes all data likely to impact freight movement and is based on specific characteristics for over 200 commodity groups. FTR Associates’ forecast reports cover trucking and rail transportation and include demand analysis for commercial vehicle as well as railcar. Specially designed reports are offered to participants in both industries to cover specific needs. For more information about the work of FTR Associates, visit www.ftrassociates.com or call Helen Lile at 888-988-1699 ext. 45.
For More Information Contact:
Chris Kemmer, Consultant
CK Marketing & Communications
614-459-9369/614-459-9379(Fax)
chris@ckkemmercomm.com
or
Helen Lile
FTR Associates
888-988-1699 – Ext. 45
hlile@ftrassociates.com
