Bulls beating back bears

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With rates in some sectors increasing as much as 20 percent and capacity steadily tightening, carriers are increasingly optimistic about the next 12 months, according the latest Transport Capital Partners Business Expectation Survey.

About 88 percent of respondents expect volumes to grow over the next year and 84 percent expecting rates to rise, according to for the second quarter 2010.

Over the last six quarters, carriers have indicated that they’re more confident that volumes will improve during the next 12 months.

The firm says revenue, tons and miles are all increasing.

"Carrier answers show a high level of optimism that is reflected in the general upward swing of the economy," said Lana Batts, managing partner for TCP.

Of carriers with over $25 million in revenues, 94 percent indicated that rates will increase over the next year. Eighty percent of carriers making under $25 million had similar expectations. Fifty-three percent of the larger carriers experienced rate increases, while 33 percent of the smaller carriers reported increases.

In Ontario, the most recent Ontario Trucking Association Business e-Pulse survey indicated that truckers in Canada’s most populous province are similarly confident about the next few months.

The OTA survey had 72 percent of carriers say they were optimistic about the trucking industry’s overall prospects for the next three months – up a significant 20 percentage points over the first quarter survey.