TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TransCore Link Logistics Canadian Freight Index volumes for the first quarter of 2015 peaked in March surpassing February volumes by 13 percent and closing the first quarter on a high. Year-over-year load volumes, however, fell 23 percent compared to 2014.
First quarter 2015 volumes mirrored total volumes in fourth quarter 2014 and were comparatively flat between quarters. Yet, first quarter volumes were down 20 percent compared to the same period last year. This expected decline was driven by 2014’s extraordinary high volumes.
The distribution of cross-border loads coming into Canada to Ontario, Western, Quebec and Atlantic regions remained unchanged for the first part of the year. However, regional shifts leaving Canada fluctuated in Western, Ontario and Quebec regions.
Cross-border load volumes averaged 73 percent of the total, an increase of two percent compared to February. Outbound load volumes decreased 21 percent and inbound loads were down 20 percent year-over-year.
Intra-Canada load volumes represented 23 percent of the total volumes, a decrease of three percent compared to February and 26 percent year-over-year.
Equipment capacity increased in March and was observed for trucks going in and out of Canada, as well as within Canada. Postings for truck availability increased 16 percent month-over-month and 29 percent year-over-year. The equipment-to-load ratio increased to 1.95 from 1.90 in February and from 1.17 compared to March 2014.
TransCore’s Canadian Freight Index accurately measures trends from roughly 5,000 of Canada’s trucking companies and freight brokers, and includes all domestic, cross-border and interstate data submitted by Loadlink’s Canadian-based customers.
Real-time and historical data on total truck and load volumes, as well as ratios in specific areas can be accessed from TransCore’s Posting Index.
About TransCore Link Logistics
Looking for a better way to match available freight loads with trucks, TransCore Link Logistics in 1990 developed Loadlink, a load board connecting brokers, carriers, owner operators and private fleets in Canada to a real-time database of 15 million loads, shipments and trucks – the largest in the industry. The monthly Canadian Freight Index now defines the freight movement spot market. The company also provides its customers with dispatch solutions, ACE/ACI eManifest, Posting Index, credit solutions, factoring, online transportation job boards, mileage software and more.
TransCore Link Logistics is a unit of Roper Industries, a diversified technology company and constituent of the Standard and Poor’s S&P 500, Fortune 1000 and the Russell 1000 indices. More information on TransCore Link Logistics can be found at www.transcore.ca, @loadlink on Twitter, on YouTube and on LinkedIn.
