--- title: FTR | Ask the Experts | Bill Witte description: FTR's experts in freight transportation answer questions asked by industry professionals. Real questions that your peers and colleagues are asking that reflect the current state of the industry. --- [![FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png?width=400&height=111&name=FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4.png "FTR_Logo_Primary_DarkBackground-4")](https://www.ftrintel.com) [![AskTheExperts_LPheader](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg?width=1991&name=AskTheExperts_LPheader.jpg "AskTheExperts_LPheader")](https://ask.ftrintel.com)     ## Bill Witte ### Recent Posts ## [What is the state of inflation?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/inflation-nov-21) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Nov 23, 2021 11:15:58 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/inflation-nov-21) Bill Witte fields a question about the state of inflation and shares his outlook going forward. [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/inflation-nov-21) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [inflation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [economic](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economic) ## [What is the current outlook for the GDP?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-nov-21) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Nov 16, 2021 11:31:45 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-nov-21) Bill Witte discusses FTR's outlook for the GDP. [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-nov-21) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [supply chain](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain), [GDP](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp), [orders](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/orders), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation) ## [What changes should we be seeing in the course of inflation?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/changes-inflation-2021) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Jul 12, 2021 1:36:29 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/changes-inflation-2021) **Bill Witte discusses inflation and what changes it could affect and be affected by.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/changes-inflation-2021) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [inflation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation), [federal reserve](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/federal-reserve), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook) ## [What causes are there for there to be more openings than hires in the job market?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/job-market-openings) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Jul 8, 2021 12:11:34 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/job-market-openings) **Bill Witte discusses the shift that occurred in 2014 that led to more job openings than hires and what that says about where we are today. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/job-market-openings) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [jobs](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/jobs), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [growth](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth), [levels](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels), [openings](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/openings), [hires](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hires) ## [What does the disparity in different outlooks say about our current environment?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/different-outlooks-environment) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Jul 7, 2021 1:05:35 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/different-outlooks-environment) **Bill Witte discusses the different positive and negative outlooks and what that wide disparity says about the current environment. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/different-outlooks-environment) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [growth](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth), [levels](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels), [disparity](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disparity) ## [What is FTR's labor outlook through 2022?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/labor-outlook-2022) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Jun 30, 2021 12:08:08 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/labor-outlook-2022) **Bill Witte presents FTR's labor outlook, focusing on unemployment, employment level and employment change. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/labor-outlook-2022) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [employment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/employment), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [growth](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth), [levels](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels), [unemployment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/unemployment) ## [What is FTR's GDP outlook through 2022?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-2022) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Jun 30, 2021 11:57:53 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-2022) **Bill Witte presents level and growth comparisons for FTR's GDP outlook.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-outlook-2022) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [GDP](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [growth](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth), [levels](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels) ## [How will the federal debt be reduced?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/how-will-the-federal-debt-be-reduced) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Dec 18, 2020 2:04:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-06.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/how-will-the-federal-debt-be-reduced) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "How will the federal debt be reduced?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/how-will-the-federal-debt-be-reduced) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [inflation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation), [national debt](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/national-debt), [federal reserve](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/federal-reserve) ## [What happens to trucking when consumer spending picks up again?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/what-happens-to-trucking-when-consumer-spending-picks-up-again) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Dec 18, 2020 1:54:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-07.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/what-happens-to-trucking-when-consumer-spending-picks-up-again) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "What happens to trucking when consumer spending picks up again?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/what-happens-to-trucking-when-consumer-spending-picks-up-again) Tags: [Consumer Spending](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer-spending), [double-dip recession](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/double-dip-recession) ## [Will states cut taxes to try and drive up budget revenues?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/will-states-cut-taxes-to-try-and-drive-up-budget-revenues) Posted by [Bill Witte](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte) on Dec 16, 2020 2:17:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-09.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/will-states-cut-taxes-to-try-and-drive-up-budget-revenues) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "Will states cut taxes to try and drive up budget revenues?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/will-states-cut-taxes-to-try-and-drive-up-budget-revenues) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [state budgets](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-budgets), [taxes](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/taxes) [All posts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/all)   ---   ### Submit a question: You **ask**. FTR Experts **answer**. [![SUBMIT A QUESTION](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/00e4679e-3346-4401-9ab7-ad77bee1975b)     ---   ### Search for answers:  This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Browse posts by topic: - [outlook (73)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook) - [transportation (70)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation) - [trucking (60)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking) - [Economy (57)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy) - [Rail (45)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail) - [intermodal (35)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal) - [state of freight (28)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight) - [Freight (22)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight) - [supply chain (20)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain) - [commercial vehicle (18)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commercial-vehicle) - [railcar (17)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar) - [Class 8 (15)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/class-8) - [orders (14)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/orders) - [rail equipment (13)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment) - [carload (11)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/carload) - [economic (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economic) - [trailers (9)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailers) - [employment (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/employment) - [production (8)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/production) - [CV Update (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cv-update) - [GDP (7)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp) - [consumer (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer) - [growth (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/growth) - [jobs (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/jobs) - [recovery (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery) - [spot market (6)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-market) - [Demand (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/demand) - [driver shortage (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage) - [for-hire trucking (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/for-hire-trucking) - [inflation (5)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation) - [automotive (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/automotive) - [build levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/build-levels) - [coal (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coal) - [inventory (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inventory) - [levels (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/levels) - [utilization (4)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/utilization) - [Truck and Trailer (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-and-trailer) - [Truckload Rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates) - [active utilization (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/active-utilization) - [congestion (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/congestion) - [deliveries (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/deliveries) - [driver capacity (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity) - [dry van (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dry-van) - [economically-sensitive freight (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economically-sensitive-freight) - [industrial sector (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/industrial-sector) - [refrigerated (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/refrigerated) - [spot rates (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-rates) - [steel (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/steel) - [unemployment (3)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/unemployment) - [Capacity Utilization (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/capacity-utilization) - [Consumer Spending (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/consumer-spending) - [Drivers (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/drivers) - [GDP Goods Transport (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp-goods-transport) - [OEMs (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/oems) - [Rail Volume (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-volume) - [box cars (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/box-cars) - [chemical (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/chemical) - [driver demand (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-demand) - [driver supply (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-supply) - [federal reserve (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/federal-reserve) - [flatbed (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed) - [fuel (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel) - [heavy (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy) - [hirings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hirings) - [imports (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/imports) - [labor (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor) - [metals (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/metals) - [service (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service) - [services (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/services) - [truck loadings (2)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-loadings) - [COVID-19 (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/covid-19) - [Coronavirus (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coronavirus) - [Freight Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-volumes) - [Goods Transport (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods-transport) - [India (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/india) - [OTR (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/otr) - [Parcel (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/parcel) - [Rate Environment (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rate-environment) - [TCI (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tci) - [Tariffs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tariffs) - [Truck Freight (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-freight) - [Trucking Conditions Index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-conditions-index) - [Volumes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/volumes) - [air (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/air) - [amazon (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/amazon) - [auto production (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/auto-production) - [beverages (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/beverages) - [challenges (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/challenges) - [commodity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commodity) - [competitive index (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/competitive-index) - [contract rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/contract-rates) - [cube covered hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cube-covered-hopper) - [disparity (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disparity) - [disruption (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disruption) - [double-dip recession (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/double-dip-recession) - [dwell times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dwell-times) - [equipment costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/equipment-costs) - [esg benefits (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/esg-benefits) - [executive order (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/executive-order) - [flatbed market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed-market) - [forest product (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/forest-product) - [freight truckload (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-truckload) - [fuel costs (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel-costs) - [gondola (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gondola) - [goods (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/goods) - [grain (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/grain) - [heavy-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy-duty) - [hires (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/hires) - [idle trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/idle-trucks) - [labor participation rate (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/labor-participation-rate) - [lead times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lead-times) - [lumber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lumber) - [market power (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/market-power) - [medium-duty (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/medium-duty) - [merger (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/merger) - [national debt (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/national-debt) - [open-top hopper (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/open-top-hopper) - [openings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/openings) - [order boards (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/order-boards) - [output (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/output) - [pandemic recovery (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/pandemic-recovery) - [peak year (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/peak-year) - [ports (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/ports) - [psr (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/psr) - [railroad (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railroad) - [raw materials (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/raw-materials) - [red tag (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/red-tag) - [retailers (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/retailers) - [rubber (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rubber) - [sand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/sand) - [savings (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/savings) - [scrap (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap) - [scrap metal (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap-metal) - [semiconductors (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/semiconductors) - [service disruptions (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service-disruptions) - [shipping (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping) - [shipping delays (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shipping-delays) - [shortage (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/shortage) - [state budgets (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-budgets) - [taxes (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/taxes) - [trailer industry (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-industry) - [trailer market (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trailer-market) - [train speeds (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/train-speeds) - [truck rates (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-rates) - [trucking companies (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-companies) - [turn times (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/turn-times) - [used trucks (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/used-trucks) - [vehicle demand (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/vehicle-demand) - [workforce (1)](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/workforce) [see all](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte#) ### View recent posts: ### About FTR From freight demand to system capacity to equipment production, our clients benefit from the industries most reliable forecasts, quantitative market intelligence, key trends, and comprehensive analysis on North American freight transportation. Transportation professionals apply this information to their internal planning, forecasting, and market analysis. Our clients come from the shipping, trucking, rail, intermodal, equipment, and financial communities.  [Learn More](https://www.ftrintel.com) ### Links ### Contact Us ** 888-988-1699 ** [ftr@ftrintel.com](mailto:ftr@ftrintel.com) ** 1720 N Kinser Pike, Suite 210 Bloomington, IN 47404 Copyright 2026 — FTR | Transportation Intelligence [**](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/bill-witte#)