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January 21, 2014 - Carriers Optimistic On Near-Term Volumes & Rates

A recent article in Commercial Carrier Journal (ccjdigital.com) references the TCP Fourth Quarter 2013 Survey to highlight carrier optimism for volume and rate growth.

Continuing the positive trends of the previous quarter, more carriers are expressing optimism for increases in volumes and rates. Since the fourth quarter of 2012, positive volume expectations have risen from 29 percent to 61 percent.

With those increasing volumes, a majority of carriers are also expecting rates to climb over the coming months. There are now close to three times as many optimistic carriers as pessimistic carriers.

“Volumes and rates continue to be more entwined as positive GDP numbers are laid on top of effective capacity brought down by the FMCSA driving hour mandates,” says Steven Dutro, TCP Partner.

Check out the full article here.

January 17, 2014 - Carriers Sensing an Improving Marketplace

TCP survey results in a recent TruckingInfo.com article show improving conditions in the industry, but also some cause for hesitancy.

The steady growth of the economy is producing increasingly positive expectations from carriers. A majority of carriers are expecting volumes and rates to climb in 2014.

But despite this optimism, rate and volume growth has yet to fully materialize – aside from the construction, petroleum and seasonal freight sectors.

Over the last 16 months, a majority of carriers have expected rate increases. However, only since the first quarter of 2013 have rates actually risen.

But Richard Mikes, TCP Partner, notes, “Initial carrier contacts and load board reports show strength in spot market rates. This, coupled with positive political news in D.C., gives hope for stability in the economy with carrier rate expectations in the survey.”

For the complete article click here.

January 14, 2014 - Four Consecutive Quarters of Mounting Optimism

Transport Topics ran an article in December that highlighted the 4th quarter 2013 TCP Business Expectations Survey.

In the article they note that most trucking companies are expecting their volumes to increase, and to be able to raise their rates, in 2014. As the TCP survey revealed, the indicators of mounting optimism for both volumes and rates have been in place now for four consecutive quarters.

“TCP illustrated the fact that optimism has outpaced pricing reality by noting that a majority of fleets have been predicting higher rates for four years, though prices didn’t begin to rise until 2013,” states the article.

Read more here.