The U.S. economy grew in the fourth quarter at a faster pace than previously estimated, supported by stronger household spending that’s helping cushion the expansion from weakness overseas.
Archive for March, 2016
LTL: Managing the way to profitability
With “tepid” freight demand dampening LTL profits, analysts and carriers executives say that fuel, capacity utilization, and mounting regulation will play a large role in 2016 rates. Here’s what shippers should expect…
Revenue shrinks at top truckload carriers
Sandbagged by lower demand, surging capacity and falling fuel surcharges, 19 of the 25 largest U.S. truckload carriers saw revenue decline in 2015. Overall, the combined revenue of the Top 25 Truckload Carriers dropped 2.3 percent to $27.2 billion, according to SJ Consulting Group. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, […]
Ocean cargo supply chains were more secure in 2015, says study
Shipping losses continue their long-term downward trend with 85 total losses reported worldwide in 2015, according to the Allianz Global Corporated & Specialty (AGCS) fourth annual Safety and Shipping Review 2016, which analyzes reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons.
AAR: U.S. carload, intermodal traffic drops 14 percent in week 11
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic continued its slide for the week ending March 19, with carloads falling 17.2 percent to 235,390, and intermodal volume declining 10.7 percent to 248,073 containers and trailers compared with traffic during the same week in 2015, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
U.S. manufacturing still weak; labor market flexes muscle
New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods fell in February as the sector continued to struggle with the lingering effects of a robust dollar and lower oil prices. While other data on Thursday showed an increase in the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week, revisions to the prior weeks’ figures showed the […]
US truck tonnage shoots up 7.2 percent as winter fades
Trucking delivered some good news this week to those yearning for spring and signs of faster economic growth. U.S. truck tonnage leaped 7.2 percent in February, after declining a revised 0.3 percent in January, the American Trucking Associations said March 22. (This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on […]
Increased Regional Activity Pushes Spot Freight Rates Higher
Led by strong regional demand, spot truckload rates rose across all three equipment types during the week ending March 19, hitting their highest levels in at least a month, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.
POLA and POLB report strong February volumes
February volumes at the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) continued the strong momentum that kicked off 2016 in January, according to data respectively issued by the ports last week.
Lower fuel surcharges, soft demand squeeze revenue of top 25 LTLs
The strong surge in revenue U.S. less-than-truckload carriers enjoyed in 2014 ran out of gas last year, as weaker demand and lower fuel surcharges dragged down LTL trucking’s top line. The combined revenue of the 25 largest LTL trucking companies declined 0.5 percent in 2015 to $32.1 billion, after shooting up 9.1 percent to $32.3 […]