FTR

For March, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI came in at- 7.25, following February’s -5.31 reading.

FTR reported that preliminary April net orders, at 14,400 units, were off 25% compared to March and 12.5% annually. And it added that over the last 12 months, total Class 8 orders were at 267,700 units. ACT reported that April Class 8 orders, art 15,600 units, were off 1,800 units compared to March, while posting a 30% annual gain, in what it called a very easy year-ago comparison.

For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at -1.4, below January’s 3.4, which was 3% below December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3.

For February, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading came in a -5.31, down from January’s -1.41, which was ahead of December’s -4.3.

FTR reported that preliminary March net orders, at 18,200 units, were down 34% compared to February and off 4% annually. ACT reported that March preliminary North America Class 8 orders, at 17,300 units, were off 10,400 units, or roughly 40%, compared to February, and off 8.7% annually.

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 3.3, marking a 3% decline December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3. October had topped September's 4.3 by 2%, with FTR saying at the time reflected the most favorable market conditions for shippers since June 2023.

The new edition of the Trucking Conditions Index (TCI), which was recently issued by freight transportation consultancy FTR, saw some signs of improvement but again remaining short of growth.

FTR reported that preliminary February net orders, at 25,700 units, were down 9% compared to January and headed up 11% annually. ACT reported that February preliminary North American Class 8 net orders, at 27,700 units, saw a 600-unit gain over January, while posting a 16% annual increase.

For December, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI was essentially flat, coming in at 6.4, edging out November’s 6.3 reading. October had topped October’s 4.3 by 2%, with FTR saying at the time reflected the most favorable market conditions for shippers since June 2023.

The state of the freight economy was a key theme at the SMC3 JumpStart 2024 conference held in Atlanta late last month. Avery Vise, vice president of trucking, for freight transportation consultancy FTR, offered up his views on the freight economy, at the moment, and where things could be headed.

FTR reported that preliminary January net orders, at 26,400 units, snapped a three-month stretch of sequential declines, with a 2% gain over December, while posting a 35% annual increase. ACT reported that January preliminary North American Class 8 orders, at 27,000 units, rose by 600 units compared to December and climbed up 45% annually.

For November, the most recent week for which data is available, the SCI headed up to 6.3, topping October’s reading by 2%.

For November, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading, at -1.35, marked an improvement compared to November and October’s respective -6.07 and -8.97 readings.

It is fair to say that the topic of inventory management has always had a permanent seat at the table, so to speak, when it comes to mapping out logistics and supply chain planning and operations processes. That theme became especially heightened, as we all well know, during the height of the pandemic nearly four years ago.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 4.3.