The strong freight growth the transportation industry experienced in 2018 has slowed slightly,but capacity issues have remained,and carriers and shippers are working to increase efficiency and keep driver's seats filled. Bob Costello,chief economist for American Trucking Associations(ATA),said the key drivers of freight - consumer demand,construction and factory output - are continuing to grow,but at a slower rate than they were last year.”However,everything remains at high levels,even if they are growing more slowly,”he said. Brad Delco,an analyst with Stephens Inc.,said the debate on whether there is a capacity crunch or not is starting to heat up,and people are asking if things are beginning to balance out as a result of the economy,the government shutdown effect,tariff threats,more capacity within the market or all of the above.”I think in certain markets and lanes,capacity is still tight,but to a lot lesser degree than last year,”Delco said. Dennis Moriarty,director of operations for Altom Transport Inc.,said tightened capacity is an extension of hours-of-service(HOS)requirements and the electronic logging device(ELD)mandate.”That has restricted driver capacity,but the average age of a tank truck driver continues to increase every year.There aren't enough young folks getting into this line of work,”he said.
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