Canadian trucking rates rise

Canadian trucking rates rise    A survey of truck transportation costs in Canada released Monday, show truckload rates rising.
   The Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI), shows a “definite increase in truckload rates — which is consistent with what we are seeing in the industry,” says Alan Saipe, president of Supply Chain Surveys Inc. “Less-than-truckload appears to be staying flat.”
   Survey results for the past two years are available here.
   Overall freight costs increased 3.9 percent in April when compared to March, but were 3 percent lower than a year earlier. Base rates, which exclude the impact of carrier fuel surcharges, also increased 3.9 percent. Average fuel surcharges decreased 1.4 percent from the prior month.
   “While we are seeing a clear increase in demand for truckload capacity, it is still too early to know for sure if the price increases seen in April is the start of an upward trend,” said Doug Payne, president of Nulgox, a transportation management solutions provider that sponsors the index.