Finance expert points to cautionary signals for US freight demand
Consumer spending is likely to decline in the coming months, adding to weak freight conditions.
Consumer spending is likely to decline in the coming months, adding to weak freight conditions.
The air cargo sector was banking on a turnaround in market conditions by this fall, but it might have to wait until late next year unless demand unexpectedly revives.
A large European pulp and paper company issued a profit warning as “the whole packaging market is currently weakening.”
“Our growth and potential were being hindered by manual processes and limited visibility into workflows,” US Cargo Brokers founder Adam Konopko said. “After adopting Ditat’s TMS, US Cargo experienced a complete transformation.”
A multitude of mixed economic signals make it difficult to predict a recovery in air cargo business this year. Even if global trade picks up, the lion’s share of shipments will go by ocean.
An economic study commissioned by three rail supply trade groups has determined that the U.S. rail supply industry’s impact to the nation’s GDP exceeded $75 billion in 2020.
A year ago, shippers were in scrums to find cargo space on airlines. The market has softened considerably and 2023 could see more declines before things get better.
The folks at Convoy believe that this soft market will continue through the beginning of the new year as demand is declining faster than supply.
The International Air Transport Association’s chief economist points to mixed signals for the economy and air cargo activity.
Craig Fuller explains the impact of higher diesel prices on the U.S. economy and consumers.
President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that includes federal highway designation for portions of Interstate 27 in Texas and New Mexico as part of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor project
Craig Fuller analyzes the state of the U.S. truckload market.
Legislation aimed at easing transportation pain may have a chance of getting through Congress
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants the Biden administration to spend less time correcting economic problems the chamber feels don’t exist, and more on trade.
Strong economic growth and growing populations will drive increases in global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption through 2050
Cold weather affects your vehicle in more ways than you might expect:
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In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, conditions remain favorable for LTLs and the overall freight environment. Plus, a new SPAC targets transportation companies in the heartland, and rising commodity prices could soon impact trucking.
Michael Vincent and Zach Strickland give an update on the headlines of the day, talk maritime rates with Chris Richards and air cargo with Eric Kullisch
This week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 80 (Carriers) Last week’s DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index: 75 (Carriers) Three-month DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index Outlook: 65 (Carriers) […]
A FreightWaves survey of top election issues as viewed by motor carriers found the economy top of mind ahead of Tuesday’s election. Taxes and regulations tied for second.
Spot rates out of LA and Dallas are remarkably high and the tight capacity in those markets is driving the freight cycle.
It’s a turbulent period in Europe for the aviation industry. Regional travel is reopening in the EU, but the UK has tightened travel restrictions and airlines are struggling to stay in business without government assistance.
As various parts of the nation and the world begin to open up, there will be logistical and supply chain issues. Darren Prokop explores those issues.
Prominent transportation leaders are part of a business task force offering ideas on when and how to lift coronavirus restrictions.
Anthony and Zach discuss the swelling unemployment numbers as well as the plummeting freight volumes and what the endgame might look like for the COVID-19 outbreak.
Many indicators are pointing to a better 2020 than 2019 for the freight industry, but several challenges remain, including impacts from the coronavirus.
We gear up into this frigid week with a wild ride of headlines and industry updates. First, some bad news: a fatal shooting at a family-owned trucking company in San […]
We kick off the week with headlines involving major trucking crashes in Pennsylvania and Indiana, the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse websites opening day struggles. Don’t worry, though, if you’re trying […]
Market Expert Anthony Smith writes about the factors that will affect the U.S. economy in 2020 and what that willl mean for business.
The housing and construction sectors are showing signs of life, giving truckers a rare hint of optimism for the coming months.
Brian Aoaeh writes about changes in the energy/fuel mix over the next 30 years in developed and developing economies.
Daimler is cutting jobs citing global economic slowdown and emissions fine; German economic growth exceeds expectations; U.S.-China limited trade deal is still unsigned.
Join us to hear FreightWaves’ CEO, Craig Fuller, and Economist, Anthony Smith, share the state of the market today and how you can prepare for tomorrow based on the latest data available.
Although consumption rates in Europe have remained durable and kept cargo demand reasonably buoyant this year, the U.S.-China trade war and ‘Brexit’ are casting dark clouds over the European economy […]
GDP growth hits 3.7 percent on trade surge, but patches of weakness in householding and business spending paint a mixed picture.
The marketplace for truckload transportation is fragmented and opaque. Relationships between shippers and carriers are tenuous at best, forged and broken by wild swings in capacity availability and rates per mile. In this white paper, Transfix and FreightWaves define the problems distorting the marketplace for truckload transportation, discuss how carriers think about their assets, explain the role of technology in reducing empty miles, and sketch out the economic dynamics that come into play when the marketplace is optimized to free up capacity at the right price.
As the United States-China trade war frightened stock markets on August 5 into their worst day of the year, some analysts said Mexico could find a silver lining in increased […]
Donald Broughton writes a thought-provoking commentary about how technology has killed inflation.
Donald Broughton writes that as goes the freight sector goes the economy in this commentary.
This monthly Market Update webinar series delivers insightful, forward-looking market perspectives from industry leaders via a 60-minute presentation and attendee Q&A.
Donald Broughton writes the second part of his look at the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and how transportation professionals can tweak GDP numbers to better understand and forecast the business environment they are competing in.
Market expert Donald Broughton explains how the U.S. gross domestic product can be a valuable tool by trucking companies (and others).
The report showed further deceleration in the freight markets in May and warns an economic contraction could be underway.
Today on FreightWaves NOW, we bring you the economic data that supports a broad slowdown. We examine the Laredo markets and analyze whether or not carriers really are pulling freight […]
Today on FreightWaves NOW, Seth Holm brings us the not-so-good news about the current economic situation.
Market expert Henry Byers examines the U.S.-Chinese trade war and its impact on imports and the broader economy.
DHL, FedEx and UPS have dominated the global express market for years but recently, China’s express providers (including YTO Express, STO Express and SF Express) have been nipping at the […]
Last week the widely reported headline was “Housing Starts Climb Almost 6 Percent in April” yet many in the transportation marketplace openly questioned how that was possible. Whether it is […]
Donald Broughton explores the technology economy and its impact on the overall economy.
What The Truck?!? is sending you into the weekend with all of the latest headlines and top stories from FreightWaves.com, as well as Earning Over / Under, On The Radar presented by SONAR, Fast Paced Forecast, and so much more. Let’s bang a little cowbell for the weekend and celebrate the launch of WTT?!?’s expansion to two episodes a week!
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In this commentary article, Donald Broughton looks at the second part of the economy – the consumer economy – and where we are now in the economic cycle.
Donald Broughton, FreightWaves’ chief market strategist, helps explain the U.S. economy in a multi-part series. This article focuses on the industrial economy of the U.S., which is critical to the overall health of the nation.
In the wake of the 737 MAX crashes and subsequent worldwide grounding of the aircraft, Boeing reports its earnings, which are down for the quarter.
Donald Broughton, FreightWaves’ chief market strategist, explains the problems he has with surveys based on ‘sentiment’ – except for the Institute for Supply Management survey. Read why he believes in its results.
Retail sales rebounded in March, rising by the largest amount in over a year. Growth was brod-based during the month, with most areas in the sector seeing rising sales.
Air cargo market expert Jesse Cohen writes about the ongoing efforts to increase security in air cargo operations. Read about the latest measures and how they impact the movement of freight.
WebCargo by Freightos has acquired India-based Air Freight Bazaar, with the intent of expanding its footstep in global air cargo digitalization.
Schneider Logistics published its 2019 Transportation Industry Review, arming shippers with the information they need to make short- and long-term distribution plans, budget freight costs and provide industry context to their broader audiences.
Air cargo volume is down year-to-date. Learn what air cargo companies are doing – and not doing – to generate greater volume and revenue.
Auto sales are declining, but the National Automobile Dealers Association still expects strong sales for 2019, plus the one area where Amazon is losing and opposition to Canada’s carbon tax grows.
Increases in manufacturing and construction help GDP grow by 0.3 percent following slowdown at end of 2018.
Rate increases are slowing and could even turn negative later this year, although fleet profits should remain strong for much of the year.
There are plenty of conflicting data points on the direction of the economy, which might suggest that everything may be just fine in the near term.
Tesla’s V3 Supercharging station discharges 250 kW; Italy’s olive-oil industry is facing an agrarian crisis; Americans are abandoning public transit; French port of Marseille-Fos has joined a blockchain pilot program.
Lower investments and exports help push down Canadian GDP growth to lowest level in more than two year.
Growth in the U.S. economy slowed further in the fourth quarter of 2018, but came in well above expectations to round out an impressive year of growth.
Is 60 degrees hot or cold? Is the freight market hot or cold? The answers to both questions depend on perspective.
Economic and freight indicators are mixed, with some suggesting a downturn is coming, but others pointing to continued growth.
It’s that time of year; time to look forward and plan for the year. In order to have a better idea of where the economy and industry are headed, we always like to look back and review from where we came and what happened.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — A truck sales boom in Australia may have peaked this year. Although the year-to-date sales figures are up, the forward indicators are pointing toward a slowdown in 2019.
Is the economy still healthy? Are people still making things, shipping things, and buying things? According to the railroad car data, the answer is a definitive “Yes.”
As you sit down for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner today, you’ll be enjoying not only some great food, but the lowest average cost of Thanksgiving meals since 2010, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Retail activity posted the strongest gain in five months, as big gains in auto sales and rising gasoline prices helped to drive overall activity. Core spending grew at a more moderate pace, but the broad-based nature of the gains is encouraging headed into the holiday season.
Trailer orders are booming for manufacturers, setting a record in September and nearly matching it in October.
More of the same. That was the consensus in a quick informal poll of listeners to FTR’s State of Freight webinar on Thursday when they were asked what the most likely outcome was for the U.S. economy in 2019.
High spot market trucking rates have caused more carriers to move to that market, but the majority of carriers in a new Transporeon Group survey have remained loyal to their shippers.
Livestock businesses are looking to secure farms from future hurricane calamities; Elon Musk is accused of fraud by the SEC; global trade expected to grow irrespective of the tariffs war.
Amazon 4-star will open to the public today in the SoHo neighborhood of New York.
There is plenty of evidence for increased capacity in the freight market. Volumes are higher than they were in March when the spot market was considered more volatile.
As capacity continues to shrink and demand continues to rise, the need for efficiency in every step of the supply chain is more important than ever. Get a bird’s eye view into your trailer with Spireon’s IntelliScan technology.
The lira is down more than 40% this year, battered by concerns about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member’s political and economic stability and a continuing trade tensions with the U.S.
This week in freight showed more of the same with continued stabilization, but history tells us this may not last for much longer.
Used truck prices in June were changed little month-over-month, but posted a 15% increase over June 2017, according to ACT Research.
While there is a lot of noise surrounding tariffs and potential trade wars, it probably isn’t enough to derail the economy and the red-hot freight environment.
As of late yesterday the Canadian dollar volatility began trending poorly throughout the night and into today, and the short-lived support fell.
Millennials are helping drive the current economic cycle, which is showing no sighs of slowing down.
The economy remains strong, and capacity tight, although buffeted by some headwinds.
Navistar has rolled out a series of new products in the last few years and the strong overall economy is helping the once-beleaguered truck maker rebound with another strong performance in its second-quarter earnings, beating Wall Street estimates.
Retail sales are in. One more indicator the economy is still rolling along. Trucking companies show signs of continuous improvement.
Trailers orders dipped month-over-month in April, but for the 17th consecutive month they posted year-over-year gains.
The ambiguity surrounding trade talks is leading companies most affected by the tariffs to delay hiring or spending plans until they have a clearer sense of what the administration will do.
The first month of the second quarter is in the books. While the economy shows it is still going strong, there is some tempering in the freight market. Trucking companies are still uncertain with what lies ahead.
This week we are using the Cass Information Systems data to review what is happening in the economy overall.
With truck order forecasts continuing to rise, Mack Truck officials speaking at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville on Thursday reiterated their confidence in a strong economy through the end of this year.
As the Trump administration makes public its intent to look at using tariffs to address what it believes are inequities in global trade markets, it set the stock market into a tailspin for good reason. We decided to lay out a basic primer and history lesson on tariffs.