For-Hire Trucking Index Volume Shows 2nd Above-Trend Reading for 2017

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index indicated that February’s volume reading showed growth at a slower rate from January’s three-year high, falling 57.1 points.

That reading was still over four points above the rolling twelve-month average. “That is the second consecutive above-trend reading in what is typically a slow freight month,” said Kenny Vieth, President and Senior Analyst at ACT Research.

Modest improvements in pricing continued into the second month of the year, with the index virtually unchanged from January. February marked the fifth consecutive month of positive price index readings.

Like the Volume Index, fleet productivity grew at a slower rate at 52.9 in February, following the significant bounce at the beginning of the year.  Said one fleet: “We feel an upward trend in load demand, still nothing great, but much better than fourth quarter 2016, more business days in the month being booked or over-booked.”

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