FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) in April rose to 7.1 from a 4.5 reading in March. A weaker environment for both freight rates and carrier utilization more than offset slightly stronger freight demand and a deceleration of fuel cost decreases in April. According to the company, the outlook is positive through mid-2024.

“Shippers conditions improved in April as weaker rates and carrier utilization helped support shippers. The outlook is for a firmly positive outlook for shippers in the economic balance of power between themselves and carriers for at least another 12 months,” said Todd Tranausky, vice president of rail and intermodal at FTR. “Economic uncertainty or a higher than expected amount of economic weakness could bump that time frame further out into the future and extend the good ride shippers have had over the last few months.”