Freight in Decline Beginning Q1 Rebounds in April

The transition between first quarter 2015 and last quarter 2014 were relatively uniform, however when Transcore compared Q1 2014 to Q1 2015 volumes are down 20% overall. (Transcore’s Canadian Freight Volumes to Close First Quarter of 2015 on a High – April 2015)   There seems to be a general consensus between shippers and carriers that the start of 2015 was rather soft with regards to freight volume, and areas that had a wealth of freight and often times not enough carriers to service the demand for trucks, are currently seeing the opposite. Some are pointing to a lull in the economy, a strong US dollar, or a dramatic drop in the barrel price of North American oil, depending on the serviced location. However some freight aficionados are claiming that 2014 was an unprecedented year for freight volume, and we would have been hard pressed to match it again in 2015.

With what has been a hard start for many in the industry, projections are looking positive, as freight has recently jumped 4.2% in the month of April and expected to remain consistent moving forward, according to American Shipper.

For more info please see:

http://www.transcore.ca/news/transcores-canadian-freight-volumes-close-first-quarter-2015-high

http://www.americanshipper.com/main/news/85015cb0-abd8-46b6-a889-2b70c07b1ed7.aspx