SCI

The October SCI, which is the most recent month for which data is available, dropped to -11.6, well below September’s 0.97.

The September SCI, which is the most recent month for which data is available, came in at 0.97, ahead of August’s -1.79.

The August SCI, which is the most recent month for which data is available, came in at -1.79, which continued a recent stretch of declines, down compared to July’s -0.36, June’s 1.03, and May’s 24.8, which marks the second highest reading on record, with April’s 41.3 being the highest. The strong April and May readings reflected what the firm called a “huge positive spike as COVID-19 impacted freight movement.”

June’s SCI reading—at 1.03—was down from May’s 24.8, which marks the second highest reading on record, with April’s 41.3 being the highest.

May’s SCI reading—at 24.8—was 16.5% lower than April’s 41.3 reading, which the firm said last month may be the peak for the SCI, during what it has called an unprecedented time for freight transportation. But even with the steep sequential decline, FTR said that the May reading trails only April for the highest SCI reading on record, according to FTR.

For April, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 41.3, well ahead of March’s 19.7 reading, which more than doubled February’s 7.93 reading and was ahead of January’s 3.73, which is the lowest SCI reading going back to October 2018.

For March, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 19.7, which more than doubled February’s 7.93 reading and was ahead of January’s 3.73, which is the lowest SCI reading going back to October 2018.

For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 7.93 ahead of January’s 3.73 reading, as well as December and November, at 4.6 and 7.0, respectively. January’s SCI reading is the lowest one going back to October 2018.

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 3.7. down nearly a full percentage point from December’s 4.6, which was off 2.4% compared to November’s 7.0 reading. This marks the third consecutive month of declines, with January representing the lowest SCI reading going back to October 2018.

For December, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI dropped from a 7.0 November reading to 4.6. Despite the decline, FTR said that utilization and logistics costs are still positive, as December freight volumes were slightly negative. And the firm added that the only input to the SCI more positive in December compared to November was fuel costs.

For November, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI edged up 0.6% to a 7.0 reading on the heels of three consecutive readings at 6.4 from August through October.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI matched September, with a reading at 6.4. FTR said this reading reflected a reasonably favorable climate, with all SCI inputs, save for a slight decrease in fuel, positive.

For September, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI was flat at 6.4, with FTR saying that all SCI measures were positive, with less favorable fuel pricing offsetting more favorable freight volume, capacity utilization, and logistics cost factors.

Looking ahead, FTR said it expects the SCI to remain in the mid-positive range akin to July over the course of the next year, with the caveat that any significant increase in fuel prices, due to the pending IMO 2020 mandate and other potential risks to diesel costs, may impact that forecast and make for a more negative outlook for shippers.

For May, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI jumped to 5.6, following a 1.9 reading in April, which was almost a full point below March’s 2.8, and marked the highest reading in more than two tears, going back to August 2016.