FTR | State of Freight
State of Freight is a series of industry resources from FTR, the leader in market intelligence and forecasting for the North American freight transportation industry. FTR podcasts provide updates for the Trucking and Rail markets, as well as the broader economy. Each podcast includes a slide deck of graphs that can be used in presentations or for internal analysis. For show downloads and to signup for more State of Freight content, go to www.FTRintel.com/podcast.
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning May 5, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss so much stuff that it is too unwieldy to list it all here, but it includes the latest data on payroll employment in trucking and changes in the for-hire carrier population in April. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.Â
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yoursel...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning April 28, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss the Trump administration’s new policy on English proficiency and its exploration of tariffs or quotas regarding heavy-duty trucks. We also review the latest data from FMCSA’s drug and alcohol clearinghouse and address key indicators of the housing and manufacturing sectors. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow alo...
Rail Market Update - Week ending April 25, 2025
This week's topics include: Tariff Update • ARCI results • Rail traffic update
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Towers. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
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Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning April 21, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some key indicators of the industrial, consumer, and housing sectors and discuss the latest Trump administration move in trade policy. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.Â
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: https...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning April 14, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review sales of autos and light trucks, the latest data on pricing for consumers and businesses, inventories and sales in the wholesale sector, applications for new businesses, and construction spending. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight.Â
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
...
Rail Market Update - Week ending April 11, 2025
 In this episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update, host Joseph Towers unpacks the whirlwind developments in U.S. trade policy, focusing on the evolving tariff landscape and its far-reaching implications for inflation, imports, and international relations—especially with China.Â
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
Support t...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning April 7, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into the latest figures on payroll employment in trucking and changes in the population of active for-hire trucking firms. We also review the labor situation for the U.S. more broadly, examine more detailed information on imports during February, and consider how the manufacturing sector performed in March. Plus, we discuss the ongoing U.S. trade war and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice Presid...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 31, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest data on imports and exports, consumer spending, inventories, manufacturing orders, and sales of new homes. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://ftrintel.com/trucki...
Rail Market Update - March 27, 2025
This week, we have several topics to cover. We'll start with weekly rail traffic, then move on to tariffs, and finally wrap up with some recent announcements from the Surface Transportation Board.
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
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Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 24, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into key indicators of the industrial and housing sectors and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://ftrintel.com/trucking-podcastÂ
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Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 17, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine retail sales, job openings, business applications, and pricing for consumers and businesses, including for trucking services. We also revisit trucking revenues in the fourth quarter of last year and for all of 2024 and check in on tariffs. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the gr...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 10, 2025
In this week's episode we tackle the following topics:
Payroll employment for trucking and related sectorsTariff update and January imports follow-upDiesel and petroleum marketsSpot market conditions and the Latest economic indicatorsMortgage ratesNew orders for durable manufactured goodsConsumer spendingRetail inventoriesÂThe Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://ftrintel.com/trucking-podcastÂ
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Rail Market Update - Week ending March 7, 2025
The latest episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update, hosted by Joseph Towers, recaps insights from the Rail Equipment Finance Conference and discusses ongoing uncertainties in the industry. A key takeaway from the event was the widespread hesitancy among industry players—shippers, OEMs, lessors, and component providers—due to shifting tariff policies.Â
Recent tariff developments include the implementation of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and an additional 10% on Chinese imports, followed by a carve-out for automotive imports from Canada and Mexico and a temporary pause on Mexican and Canadian tariffs under USMCA. Add...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 3, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some striking data reflecting how the treat of tariffs has affected international trade and examine what happened with the for-hire carrier population in February. We also address a couple of key indicators of the manufacturing sector and data on consumer spending, retail inventories, and sales of new homes. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you ar...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 24, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review data related to the housing market and the number of applications for new businesses, including those in transportation and warehousing. We also discuss revenues for the trucking industry in the fourth quarter and all of 2024 and data on truck border crossings last year. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along...
Rail Market Update - February 20, 2024
In this Rail Market Update:Â
Get the latest on weekly rail traffic, with a focus on intermodal activity. This week's topics include:
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
Support the show
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 17, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into some key indicators of the industrial and consumer economy, including manufacturing output, retail sales, and inventories. Plus, we review pricing in the consumer and business sectors – including for trucking – and recap the week in the spot market for truck freight.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: <...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 10, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dive into payroll employment for trucking, highlighting the outcome of an annual benchmark revision of the data. We also look at non-payroll employment in trucking and at the employment situation for the broader economy. Plus, we review international trade, wholesale inventories and sales, and construction spending, and we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are we...
Rail Market Update - Week ending February 7, 2025
In this Rail Market Update:Â
Get the latest on weekly rail traffic, with a focus on intermodal activity. This week's topics include:
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
Support the show
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 3, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we look at some data on trucking employment for 2024 ahead of this week’s jobs report and discuss changes in the for-hire carrier population in January. We also review some key indicators of the industrial and consumer sectors and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.Â
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indic...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 27, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we focus on the housing market, specifically sales of new and existing homes. Plus, we review the latest data from FMCSA’s drug and alcohol clearinghouse and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: https...
Rail Market Update - Week ending January 24, 2025
In this Rail Market Update:Â
Get the latest on weekly rail traffic, with a focus on intermodal activity. This week's topics include:
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 20, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’sTrucking Market Updatepodcast,wedig into key indicators of health in the industrial, consumer, and housing markets,and we discuss some early takeaways from President Trump’s first couple of daysin officeas well as an important trucking industry development that occurred inanticipation of the incoming administration. Plus, we recap the week in dieselprices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the g...
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 13, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into payroll employment in trucking and related transportation industries. We also review the broader labor market as well as international trade and inventories and sales in the wholesale sector and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Rail Market Update - Week ending January 10, 2025
In this Rail Market Update:Â
Get the latest on weekly rail traffic, with a focus on intermodal activity. This week's topics include:
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
Support the show
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 6, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review how the for-hire trucking population changed during December and the fourth quarter of 2024 and we address a number of economic indicators for the industrial, consumer, and housing sectors that have been released since our last podcast in mid-December.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the presentation.
Download the PDF: http...
Rail Market Update - Week ending Dec 20, 2024
In this Rail Market Update:Â
Get the latest on weekly rail traffic, with a focus on intermodal activity. This week's topics include:
The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Tower. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the PDF of the presentation.
Download the PDF: https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast
Support the show
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 16, 2024
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dive into some key indicators of the industrial and consumer sectors, including industrial production and retail sales, and examine the latest data regarding price inflation, international trade, business applications, and construction. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight as usual.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downloading the pr...
Rail Market Update - Special Guest - Jim Pang - December 13, 2024
This Week on the Rail Market Update Podcast: A Special Interview!
We’re shaking things up this week with a unique episode! Join Joseph as he sits down with Jim Pang, VP of Services Strategy & Head of Digital Products at Trinity Rail.
Don’t miss this engaging and insightful episode—tune in now!
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Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 9, 2024
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into payroll employment in trucking and changes in the for-hire carrier population. We also examine the broader U.S. labor market and discuss some key indicators of the industrial, consumer, and housing markets. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight.
The Trucking Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Vice President of Trucking, Avery Vise. As this information is presented, you are welcome to follow along and look at the graphs and indicators yourself by downlo...
