Rate drops keep fallin’ on our head

TORONTO – – Shippers are paying almost 10 percent less across the board than they were this time last year.

But you didn’t need us to tell you that.

However, you might be interested to know that the rate drop might have hit bottom in most trucking sectors. 

And finally, the survey from Nulogx shows truckers who have been forced to drop their rates have been able to offset the loss with fuel surcharges.

That’s the word from the consulting firm that produces the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI). 

Nulogx released its Dec.-09 figures this week, and the stats showed that freight rates “appear to be stabilizing as we move into 2010.”

“In December 2009,” CGFI reports, “overall freight costs rose by 0.2 percent when compared to November. Base rates, which exclude the impact of fuel surcharges assessed by carriers, fell 0.1 percent.

“This small reduction was offset by a 3.7-percent increase in average fuel surcharges, when compared to the prior month.

December’s stabilization has been consistent since September of 2009 with freight costs having varied by only 0.4 percent in total.”