Trucking companies are facing acute pressure on capacity, according to the latest Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) published by FTR.
The index, which measures trucking industry capacity, reached 8.49 for July, one of the highest points this year. The index indicates rising prices and service lapses resulting from the shortage of capacity, FTR says.
Shippers may face even greater pressures this fall should the economy accelerates as expected. Truck utilization remains within 100 basis points of record levels meaning that any additional growth in the economy and associated freight will strain capacity even further, pushing shipping costs higher.
Details of the July TCI Index are found in the September issue of FTR’s Trucking Update, published August 29, 2014. The ‘Notes by the Dashboard Light’ commentary discusses the pending capacity crisis including the impact of the current driver shortage. Along with the TCI and ‘Notes by the Dashboard Light’, the Trucking Update includes data and analysis on load volumes, the capacity environment, rates, costs, and the truck driver situation.