Trucking revenues, operating costs rise: Stats Can

OTTAWA (Nov. 26, 2003) — While the number of Canadian million dollar for-hire trucking companies stayed roughly the same as in 2002, operating revenues rose by 5.4 per cent industry wide in the second quarter of 2003. Of course, the percentage of operating expenses rose even higher.

Statistics Canada reported that operating revenues totalled $5.30 billion, up 5.4 per cent from the second quarter last year, while and operating expenses reached $4.94 billion, up six per cent. On a year-over-year basis, average operating revenues increased 5.2 per cent to $1.83 million, while average expenses climbed 6.2 per cent to $1.71 million. The operating ratio (operating expenses divided by operating revenues) was unchanged from the second quarter of 2002 at 0.93. Any ratio under 1.00 represents an operating profit, Stats Can noted.

For-hire trucking transportation revenues from international movements increased 6.2% to $1.93 billion from $1.81 billion in the second quarter of 2002. Revenues from outbound movements were up 8.7% and revenues from inbound movements increased 3.9%.

An estimated 2,887 companies had revenues of $1 million or more, compared with 2,889 carriers in 2002.