SCI

FTR said that the current SCI level continues to show the “moratorium” in truckload rate growth during the summer months, adding that it is expected that market conditions will become more difficult for shippers in 2016 en route to the expected negative impact regulations are expected to have on capacity, with the regulatory crunch expected to be in full effect in 2017.

While the previous edition of the Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR showed some encouraging signs for shippers in terms of a mild uptick in overall market conditions.

With overall market conditions for shippers being largely viewed as difficult, the most recent edition of the Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR is calling for more of the same in the coming months, even with signs of improvement in April, the most recent month which the report covers.

A month ago, the Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR indicated that shippers might be traveling on a rocky road in the coming months. And one month later it appears those concerns appear to have been confirmed.

For February, the month for which most recent data is available, the SCI dropped to -1.0 from January’s 2.6, with FTR explaining that the short term positive impact from one-time adjustments for rapidly dropping diesel prices and the suspension of the 2013 motor carriers hours-of-service expires later this year.

While many market conditions are working against shippers, the most recent edition of the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR shows that things may be improving, albeit slowly.

The ongoing themes of tight capacity and carrier pricing power are still in full effect, much to the dismay of shippers, based on the most recent edition of the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) from freight transportation forecasting firm FTR.

Key market metrics in the form of capacity and rates appear to be continuing to work against shippers, according to the most recent edition of the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) from freight transportation forecasting firm FTR.

FTR says both spot rates and contract rates are heading up in a full capacity environment and with the fall shipping season rapidly approaching, it explained conditions for shippers could further deteriorate.

For May, which is the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI is -7.5, following April’s -7.5. FTR said this reading represents a still-tight capacity environment, as utilization rates hover between 98 percent and 99 percent.

Tight capacity in the freight transportation market continues to be the norm, and that theme was no exception in the most recent edition of the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) from FTR.

The market environment for shippers was largely negative in November, even while improving for the third straight month, according to the most recent edition of the Shipper Conditions Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR.

If things are improving for shippers lately, there is a chance that it will not be lasting, according to the most recent edition of the Shipper Conditions Index (SCI) from freight transportation consultancy FTR Associates.

FTR said that the SCI represents “deteriorating conditions” for shippers early in 2013, with the SCI forecast expected to continue moving down as the year moves on, approaching negative double-digits by the end of 2013.

October’s SCI, which represents data for the most recent month available, was -5.0, which represents an almost 2 point improvement from September’s -6.9.