Noel Perry provides his take on the U.S. economy and freight market. Photo by Abel Communications.

Freight looks good – for now

May 6, 2015
Trucking economist thinks 2016-2018 may be the time for trucking trouble

PRINCETON, NJ. The U.S. economy is still growing, albeit more slowly, and freight volumes look to stay steady for the rest of this year and into 2016, noted Noel Perry, senior consultant with FTR Transportation Intelligence and principal of research firm Transport Fundamentals.

But beyond 2016, he thinks fleets should “think about going in the bunker” as sovereign debt issues could finally catch up to many developed countries, including the U.S.

Near term, though, the outlook looks pretty good for trucking, Perry stressed.

“The U.S. economy continues its slow recovery and GDP [gross domestic product] should grow 2.3%,” he said. “This has also been a strong truck freight recovery and I expect truck freight growth to continue, reaching 3.2% in 2016.”

Perry characterized his outlook as “a decent forecast but not as strong as before.” He noted that sovereign debt is a major unspoken issue hanging over many countries, especially the U.S. and its European trading partners.

“That is the major downside risk for 2017-2018,” Perry said. “Sovereign debt is a difficult problem to solve and at some point banks are just not going to lend. That is the major exposure for the next five years.”

In terms of trucking-specific issues, he believes regulatory drag is to blame for much of the capacity issues faced by the industry – especially helping to eliminate “surge capacity,” which makes the industry now especially vulnerable to seasonal demand and weather.

“In short, government is making trucking less productive, though that may be good public policy,” he said. “That’s why now is the time for ‘big thinking’ as the industry undergoes major structural changes.”

The suspension of the 34-hour restart rule, however, has eased the truck capacity crunch to a degree this year. Perry stressed that, as a result, the industry needs to use the next two years to learn the lessons from the tight capacity situation experienced in 2014.

Looking forward, Perry believes the trucking industry will experience what he terms “a second revolution” due to technology – especially where autonomous vehicle technology is concerned. “If the regulatory side is managed properly, we may see this technology arrive as early as 2020,” he said.

Last but not least, Perry stressed that the rapid development of U.S. shale oil has effectively eliminated “oil crisis” worries regarding petroleum shortages for the foreseeable future.

“Though fuel prices are on the way back up, the concept of an ‘oil crisis’ is effectively over,” he explained.

Sponsored Recommendations

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage

Want to boost your fleet's safety and efficiency? Tune in now to discover the power of Managed Services in optimizing your safety program, streamlining operations, and making ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!