Despite a positive outlook, 65% of Minnesota truckers are largely planning to hold both fleet size and driver hiring constant during the next twelve months,
according to survey results by the Minnesota Trucking Association (MTA).
Sixty percent of the reporting trucking fleets anticipate Minnesota’s economy will grow from one to three percent in the next year, while 30% project the economy to be flat.
This survey suggests that trucking capacity in Minnesota will tighten during 2011, said MTA President John Hausladen.
“Growing shipper demand and flat truck inventories have led to rate increases in the past, and we expect the same to be true in the coming year. This should bolster the trucking industry’s ability to increase driver pay, which has taken a hit over the past two years.”
While slightly more than half of fleets expect to purchase new equipment, it appears they will be primarily replacing older equipment, said Hausladen.