Industry Pulse

Air freight demand falls amid weak trade

The International Air Transport Association projected "little prospect" of a rebound for air freight unless trade tensions like Brexit and tariffs diminish. 

By Matt Leonard • March 11, 2019

Ocean freight rates increased ahead of Lunar New Year — but not by much

This January's month-to-month change was lower than previous years, signaling that rates are being kept up by a rush to beat tariffs.

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 11, 2019

Dip in rail volume offers reality check for industry

With trucking capacity showing some signs of recovering and continued machinations around trade in Washington, explosive intermodal growth is looking slightly less certain today.

By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 04, 2019

Air freight growth at a standstill amid trade tensions

Peak season, normally a boon for air cargo, was overshadowed by trade concerns such as U.S.-China tariffs and the upcoming Brexit deadline. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 28, 2019

Trucking shipments fall year-over-year for first time in 2 years

Analysts from the Cass Freight Index said the dip suggests the U.S. economy "may have reached its short-term expansion limit."

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 22, 2019

High ocean freight rates in December foreshadow expensive 2019

The last time the shipping industry suffered a big shock, in late 2016, shippers paid the price in spot rates. Now the 2018 - 2019 shipping cycle appears to be following a similar trend.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 07, 2019

Cost-savings in Texas may explain weak November for rail

The carload decline that might otherwise suggest a market correction may actually be the result of dynamics in one commodity group: crushed sand, stone and gravel.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 18, 2018

Peak season bumps up air freight demand

Strong e-commerce growth is offsetting the effects of economic headwinds on the air cargo industry, according to the International Air Transport Association. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 10, 2018

Trucking growth keeps pricing power in carriers' hands

Technology will keep this extended period of growth, despite finite capacity, from causing long-term inflation in freight markets, according to Cass.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 03, 2018

Spot rates from China up 91% over last year

The cost of shipping from East Asia to North America has been rising quickly since June 2018, reversing the trend of cost declines in the previous nine months.

By Edwin Lopez • Nov. 25, 2018

Soybean export declines yield slower rail volumes

October marked the slowest month of growth for carload volumes as shifting market conditions for frac sand market and grains led to a just 1% year-over-year gain.

By Edwin Lopez • Nov. 19, 2018

Longer delivery times weaken air freight growth

Demand for air transport grew 2% in September, less than half the five-year average growth rate of 5.1%, according to data from the International Air Transport Association.

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 12, 2018

Trucking prices climb as economy continues to expand

Carriers are determined to grow capacity amid seemingly unending demand for freight.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 06, 2018

Shipping to the West Coast is not so cheap anymore

This year may be the most expensive peak shipping season to date, as China to West Coast rates have surged more than 70% since last year.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 29, 2018

Rail breaks intermodal transport record — again

Rail traffic shows no signs the economy is slowing down, according to analysis from the Association of American Railroads.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 22, 2018

Tariffs haven't impacted air cargo — yet

"As the list of tariffs grows so does the air cargo industry’s vulnerability," said IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac.

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 09, 2018

Trucking capacity on the rebound from ELD mandate dip

With some segments adjusting to electronic logging devices, there may be some trucking capacity left to be realized in a booming economy, says the Cass Freight Index. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 17, 2018

Ocean freight rates reach 2-year peak

Three factors are leading to higher costs of shipping containers from China to the U.S. this peak season.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 10, 2018

Intermodal rail shatters records in August

August data suggests rail shipments are surging, even with big gains earlier in the summer.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 06, 2018

Trade war may present long-term headwind for air freight

Global air freight demand is falling for reasons unrelated to tariffs, but long-term reshoring effects could aggravate the decline.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 30, 2018

Trucking backs off the gas slightly, but capacity is at the line

Despite estimated 100% utilization, analysts are not convinced capacity is putting a cap on trucking volume. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 22, 2018

East Coast imports reach all-time high in June

The top four eastern seaports are reaping the benefits of capacity projects launched since the Panama Canal's 2016 expansion.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 13, 2018

Petroleum, consumer spending behind carload boom

Traffic in July shows a strong return from a recession, but trade wars are tempering expectations that growth will last.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 06, 2018

Air freight loses momentum amid weak world trade

A "recent pick-up in protectionist measures" may be behind a drop in new export orders, according to the International Air Transport Association.

By Shefali Kapadia • July 30, 2018

Trucking growth reaches 'short-term limit'

Shippers seem willing to pay up for freight to transport their goods, but transportation infrastructure may be unable to accommodate higher rates of volume growth. 

By Shefali Kapadia • July 23, 2018