CCJ Indicators: West Coast port disputes slow freight, trucking conditions weaken temporarily

As warmer weather creeps in during the next few weeks and brings with it seasonally heightened economic activity, reports from the typical January and February lulls continue to roll in.

Trucking economic indicators of late have showed slowing freight and lower rates.

The outlook for trucking this year, however, remains mostly positive.

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Trucking conditions show short-term weakness: FTR’s monthly Trucking Conditions Index — a measure of the environment for trucking companies — fell 34 percent in January from December. Cheap diesel continued to put upward pressure on the TCI in January (the higher the better), but weaker freight rates, slow load growth and increased capacity pushed the index downard.

But if diesel keeps itself in check throughout the year, FTR predicts a positive 2015 for the index readings.[/gttable]