TransCore’s North American Freight Index came just short of eclipsing its all-time high. For June, the index notched its second-highest load volume for the year and in its 15-year history. Freight availability jumped by 15 percent from May and 37 percent from the same time last year, and truckload freight rates rose for all freight markets. TransCore’s monthly North American Freight Index measures truckload Continue Reading

According to its latest shipping report, FTR Associates analysts are predicting shipping costs to rise rapidly due to increases in trasport costs. The March issue of FTR Associates’ Shippers Update showed that the Shippers Condition Index (SCI) remained in below-zero territory with a value of -5.2, and it is expected to fall further when freight typically surges in the spring to tighten capacity. A reading above zero suggests a favorable Continue Reading

Effects of the major earthquake that struck Japan were being felt by shipping and port operations in California and Hawaii. In response to the tsunami warnings for Southern California, the Port of Los Angeles as a precautionary measure suspended the transfer of hazardous materials but normal operations were not affected. The Port of Long Beach experienced minor operational interruptions, while it closely monitored the situation with the help of Continue Reading

Ground transportation shipping rates for Canadian shippers fell slightly in October, according to the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI). But the Base Rate Index excludes fuel surcharges, which officials say is on the rise and expect it to continue through the winter months. Compared to September, fuel surcharges increased by 6 percent to 13.77 percent of base rates, marking the first time in five months there has been an increase. CGFI officials say Continue Reading

On Monday, UPS offered customers the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset carbon emissions associated with their shipments. The carbon neutral shipping program is available in 35 countries and territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas through all shippers at UPS.com, online retailers, The UPS Store and other retail locations. For the initial launch, the company purchased offsets from the Continue Reading

According to a new report, railroads are positioned to rebound faster than any other mode of shipping, both because of the wide variety of industries it supports and market confidence signaled by recent investments. The less-than-truckload (LTL) market is struggling due to low pricing, but analysts speculate that is a move to weed out the carriers who are Continue Reading

Though intermodal transportation has a price advantage over truckload carriers, major industry players believe that the latter will come out on top as supply chains shorten. Truckload carriers could see faster growth, they say, because of their speed and flexibility. Intermodal saw Continue Reading