COLUMBUS, Ind. — A freight recession is possible and a rate recession is likely, ACT Research said in a new monthly report focusing on the future of the U.S. trucking industry.
The report covers the truckload, intermodal, LTL and last mile sectors.
“Truckload spot rates are set to soften further because of tractor capacity additions, pulling the contract rate market down by mid-year. LTL rates will be most resilient and continue to rise due to the unique dynamics in that market, but TL and intermodal rates are heading lower,” said Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s vice president and senior analyst.
Dry van rates, net fuel, fell 15% year-over-year in the first quarter and are likely to drop 20% year-over-year in the coming months, Denover said.
Freight growth has slowed materially, and it’s not just timing effects from shippers positioning around tariff threats. The headwinds to for-hire freight volumes in 2019 include tariffs, tighter financial conditions, the industrial slowdown, housing and auto softness, and fast private fleet growth, he said.
“While this presents risk of a freight recession in 2019, we do expect the U..S consumer to keep volumes growing, just very slowly,” Denover said. “Critically, this slowdown in freight is happening just as truckload capacity is accelerating. After growing less than freight for most of last year, truckload capacity has accelerated to 7% year-over-year growth in early 2019. We think this is the key story behind lower spot rates and why the pricing pendulum is starting to swing to the shipper.”
ACT’s Freight Forecast also includes a last mile section, which argues changing supply chains are beginning to impact equipment purchasing, though the Class 8 tractor sleeper is having quite a strong cycle.
ACT Research is a publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American and China markets.
More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.
For more information about ACT’s Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook click here.
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