Your most important decisions deserve the most qualified advisors.

News

February 15, 2014 - Carriers Continue to Evaluate HOS Impacts

Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) fourth-quarter survey results showed new Hours of Service rules impacting carrier productivity. TheTrucker.com posted a recent article detailing this impact.

Increases in rates and improved accessorial charges have yet to materialize for many carriers. They are, instead, looking to increase productivity as a means to raising their bottom lines.

However, the new HOS regulations appear to be significantly impacting that avenue of growth.

Seventy-eight percent of carriers reported HOS as having some impact on productivity. Thirty-seven percent say the new regulations will have more than a 5 percent impact.

Amazingly, almost six months after the changes were implemented, 16 percent of carriers still have not determined the impact. 

Read more here.

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.

October 17, 2013 - Rising Carrier Optimism

Desi Trucking relates that TCP’s third quarter survey results reflect similar sentiments from Ontario carriers in the 3rd quarter Ontario Trucking Association Business Expectations Survey.

In the OTA survey, motor carriers expressed more optimism and lowered uncertainty about the direction of the industry. In that survey, freight volumes as well as pricing continued to stabilize and/or appeared headed for growth.

TCP’s survey showed positive volume expectations are now up to 61% of carriers. Furthermore, a majority of carriers (66%) expect rates will increase over the next 12 months.

To read the Desi Trucking article, click here.

October 16, 2013 - More Carriers Expecting Volume and Rate Growth

TruckingInfo.com cites TCP third quarter survey information in their September 24th article.

Since a low point of 50% in third quarter 2012, positive volume expectations are now at 61%. In the survey, larger carriers are considerably more optimistic than smaller carriers.

A majority of carriers also expect to see rates increase over the coming 12 months. Smaller carriers have often been the more optimistic about rates. But, in this survey, a greater percentage of larger carriers are anticipating rate increases (74% vs. 48%).

“Spot market trends over the summer have been positive for most carriers and this may be the precursor to continuing volume optimism,” stated TCP’s Richard Mikes.

To read the full article click here.

October 15, 2013 - Optimism Builds for Volume and Rate Growth

The freight market is into positive territory thanks to the economy’s slow, but steady growth. TheTrucker.com cites the 3rd quarter TCP survey showing more carriers expecting volume and rate growth over the next 12 months.

Since a low point of 50 percent in third quarter 2012, positive volume expectations have risen to 61 percent. Larger carriers (68%) are much more optimistic than smaller carriers (45%).

Carriers are also more upbeat about future rate growth. Sixty-six percent of carriers expect rates will increase over the next 12 months.

Full article here.

October 14, 2013 - Carriers Upbeat on Volume and Rate Growth

Today’s Trucking shares data from the TCP third quarter industry survey in their recent article. The survey reveals more U.S. carriers expecting to see volumes and rates grow over the coming months.

“The stronger than expected volumes of the last few months are being reported by some carriers as boding well for the fourth quarter,” according to TCP partners.

However, the article also suggests that the “proof will be in the pudding.” The economic recovery and future projections are still modest. Thus, carriers are not yet seeing their optimism on volumes and rates reflected in actual rate growth.

TCP Partner, Richard Mikes, notes, “Underlying cost rate pressure is ongoing – from new truck costs and maintenance inflation to pinched driver efficiency, from HOS changes and inadequate carrier returns.”

Read the article here.

July 9, 2013 - Outlook Hopeful for the Transportation Industry

Powers & Stinson reports that TCP’s most recent Business Expectations Survey reflects a growing optimism among those in the transportation industry. More carriers now expect volumes to remain steady, or even grow, ending a 3-year trend of negative volume growth expectations. Additionally, a large majority of carriers are anticipating rates to increase over the next 12 months. Read the full post.

July 8, 2013 - Optimism Growing for Future Rate and Volume Increases

There is an increasingly positive outlook for volume and rate growth in the industry. Both TheTrucker.com and TruckingInfo.com recently shared encouraging data from TCP’s 2nd quarter industry survey.  The survey indicated that eighty percent of all carriers have seen rates hold steady over the past quarter. Furthering optimism, seventy-three percent of carriers are expecting rates to increase over the next year.

“Even with modest improvement in freight demand, carriers are anticipating much-needed higher rates from customers,” says Steven Dutro, TCP partner.

TheTrucker.com full article.

TruckingInfo.com full article.