Shippers experiencing toughest conditions on record: FTR
Conditions for U.S. shippers are the worst they’ve been since FTR began tracking them via its Shippers Conditions Index.
A record-low reading of -17.8 reflects deteriorating conditions in all metrics the index tracks. FTR anticipates conditions for shippers will improve in coming months but remain negative into 2022.
“While May and June are expected to be the worst months for shippers as rate increases in truck and rail hit their peak for the year, it is possible that the tight conditions could persist for longer,” said Todd Tranausky, vice-president of rail and intermodal at FTR.
“Capacity is expected to remain a constraining factor for transportation through the end of 2021 as truck and rail each struggle to regain employees lost during the pandemic. Strong consumer and industrial demand mean freight volumes will remain strong at the same time, setting up a challenged market for shippers over the next few months.”
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This a direct result of E-logs with very low freight rates last year that pushed many lease ops and small transport companies out of business. In Ontario Canada I am seeing the images of people feet damaged by E-logs because of lack of ability to stop for showers and other medical care. The whole trucking industry needs to improve treatment and health care for truck drivers and other transport workers. I and many other sick truck drivers are staying in homeless shelters in Ontario Canada. The Ford gov needs to work with the truck drivers to come with a better solution. We need insurance for all new truck, bus ,taxi drivers for the first 3 years to run by the Ont gov and a nonprofit group and one cent of the carbon tax per liter to subsidize the cost. We also need to make sure all T F W S have housing support by the employer for the first 3 years in Canada. We need a range of minimum and maximum freight and towing rates in Ontario. Most truck drivers in Ontario Canada are doing other things.