FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index declined in October to 1.3 from a 4.6 reading in September. Market conditions for shippers were not as favorable due to firmer fuel costs and tighter capacity. SCI readings might stay positive in the near term, but FTR expects more neutral readings soon, reflecting a greater balance between shippers and carriers. However, significant trade policy changes under incoming President Trump could yield a more volatile freight market.

Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, said, “Announced tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada and increased tariffs on Chinese goods along with other likely tariffs raise the level of uncertainty over market conditions for shippers in the near term. We expect any additional pressure on supply chains and freight transportation due to changes in trade policy to be mostly temporary, but a few hiccups seem likely. Fortunately for shippers, transportation capacity is considerably more fluid than it was during the stressful 2020-2021 period.”

This index represents four major conditions in the U.S. full-load freight market. These metrics are combined into a single index that tracks the market conditions that influence a shipper's freight transportation environment.