Carriers are optimistic in the upcoming year

According to a recent survey conducted by Transport Capital Partners, 77 percent of carriers believe their volumes will increase in the upcoming year, while only 45 percent of carriers have seen actual growth in the past three months.

"As the economy recovers with increasing consumer confidence buoying retail growth the first quarter, carriers are seeing earlier volumes and tight capacity boding well for the next year," said Richard Mikes, a partner of TCP. "The focus of most carriers may have been to keep trucks busy to keep drivers on the payroll and to ensure that volumes did not dip."

Giving carriers more incentive to employ better fleet management tactics, the survey was also able to show the number of rate increases have been falling in recent months, showing that many trucking companies are seeing less work, despite the recent optimism.

More optimism in the trucking industry comes from the American Trucking Association's Chief Economist, Bob Costello, who is "optimistic about truck tonnage going forward" after seeing the recent results compiled by Five Star Equities on YRC Worldwide and Arkansas Best Corporation.

Carriers are optimistic in the upcoming year

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012