Trailer space at limit; truck rates on way up: Report

NASHVILLE, INDIANA –  –  The U.S. economy might not be looking up, but truck rates could be.

That’s the word from the Nashville, Indiana-based FTR Associates, in their most recent survey of shipping conditions in America. (SCI). The SCI gives a reading of all factors affecting shipping, including shipper demand, trailer availability and economic conditions

The most current forecast says that truckers Stateside are generally handling all the freight they can accommodate so trailer space will be limited from now into 2012.

According to FTR Senior Consultant Larry Gross, this is in line with the group’s predictions: Carriers have right-sized to meet current demand levels and are reluctant to add capacity given the high level of economic uncertainty, he says.  Moreover, tightening driver availability means that even those truckers that wish to add capacity are finding it difficult to do so.