Market conditions in June were unfavorable for shippers though much less so than they have been for months. FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index for June improved by 10 points to -5.4 – the least negative index reading since January. Falling diesel prices – a situation that obviously reversed during July – and stabilizing freight rates were the main factors.
Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, commented, “June’s SCI is great opportunity to acknowledge the limitations inherent in trying to use a numeric index to describe complicated situations. Yes, the index ‘improved’ sharply, but that really means that overall market conditions are deteriorating for shippers at a much slower rate. That’s better than the alternative, of course, but it’s not great news. Prior to February, the index had not been more negative since May 2022. June’s SCI reading and FTR’s outlook suggest that shippers now are in a better position to address their challenges methodically rather than having to ‘drink from a fire hose,’ as the saying goes.”
The August FTR’s Shippers Update, published on August 7 includes an analysis of how newly proposed changes in EPA regulations could affect trucking operations’ cost for purchasing commercial vehicles beyond 2026.
The Shippers Conditions Index tracks the changes representing four major conditions in the U.S. full-load freight market. These conditions are freight demand, freight rates, fleet capacity, and fuel price. The individual metrics are combined into a single index that tracks the market conditions that influence the shippers’ freight transport environment. A positive score represents good, optimistic conditions. A negative score represents bad, pessimistic conditions. The index summarizes the industry’s health at a glance.
To access charts suitable to accompany this release, visit
https://www.ftrintel.com/shippers-conditions-index
The 2026 FTR Transportation Conference will be held from August 31-September 3 in Indianapolis, including full days on September 1 and 2 dedicated to forecasts and discussions concerning the truck freight and rail freight markets. Learn more and register at ftrconference.com.
