FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) posted its lowest reading of 2025 in June, dropping to -1.83 after May’s strong 3.56. The sharp swing underscores the continued volatility facing carriers, driven largely by freight rates and fuel prices.
Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking, noted:
“We still forecast a steadily but only modestly more favorable market for carriers next year. However, swings in freight volume and fuel prices – and to a lesser extent, freight rates – continue to generate volatility in trucking conditions. Capacity utilization has been the most stable factor, but it has been only marginally beneficial to trucking companies. So far, the economy is weathering tariffs and other stresses better than anticipated, and our latest freight outlook is not as weak as it was previously. At least in the near term, though, we still believe forecast risks are weighted more to the downside than the upside.”
The TCI reflects the overall health of the U.S. trucking market by tracking five major conditions:
Positive readings suggest favorable conditions for carriers, while negative scores indicate tougher market environments. Readings near zero align with a neutral environment, and double-digit swings point to significant industry shifts.
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FTR also provides weekly analysis on the State of Freight Podcast, hosted by Avery Vise, covering spot market dynamics, economic indicators, and major industry developments.
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