--- title: FTR | Ask the Experts | The FTR Experts (9) 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. (9) --- [![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)     ## The FTR Experts ### Recent Posts ## [What are the economic drivers of freight?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-drivers-freight) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jun 3, 2021 1:15:05 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-drivers-freight) **Todd Tranausky was asked: "Consumption is up. What are the contributing factors and how does it relate to intermodal?" ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-drivers-freight) Tags: [railcar](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar), [Freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight), [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail) ## [What's clogging the commercial vehicle pipeline?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-clogging-pipeline) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Apr 1, 2021 4:22:38 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_truckequipment.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-clogging-pipeline) **Don Ake discusses what is clogging the commercial vehicle pipeline. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-clogging-pipeline) Tags: [Truck and Trailer](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-and-trailer), [supply chain](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain), [Class 8](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/class-8), [commercial vehicle](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commercial-vehicle) ## [Is the Suez Canal backlog causing further supply chain disruptions?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-suez-canal-disruption) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Apr 1, 2021 3:22:41 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_shippers.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-suez-canal-disruption) **Don Ake and Eric Starks were posed with the question, "Will the Suez Canal cause further disruptions?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-suez-canal-disruption) Tags: [imports](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/imports), [supply chain](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain), [commercial vehicle](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/commercial-vehicle) ## [Will we see service disruption stemming from the railroad merger?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/disruption-railroad-merger) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Apr 1, 2021 1:17:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_Rail.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/disruption-railroad-merger) **Todd Tranausky discusses the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger and whether it will result in any service disruption. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/disruption-railroad-merger) Tags: [railcar](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar), [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [merger](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/merger), [railroad](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railroad), [service disruptions](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/service-disruptions) ## [Understanding the percentage of idle trucks](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-idle-trucks) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Mar 22, 2021 9:51:59 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_IdleTrucks.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-idle-trucks) **Don Ake and Eric Starks were posed with the question, "We know the active portion of the fleet but do we understand the idle portion?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/cv-idle-trucks) Tags: [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [Capacity Utilization](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/capacity-utilization), [active utilization](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/active-utilization), [idle trucks](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/idle-trucks) ## [What happens as demand shifts from goods to services?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/goods-dropoff-january2021) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Feb 1, 2021 1:58:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-16.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/goods-dropoff-january2021) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "As demand shifts from goods to services, will there be a dropoff for goods?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/goods-dropoff-january2021) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [Demand](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/demand) ## [How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment in 2021?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 29, 2021 12:40:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-12.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021) **Avery Vise and Eric Starks were posed with the question, "How is FTR viewing the truckload rate environment, as you indicated 10% gains in truckload rates in 2021?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-january2021) Tags: [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [Truckload Rates](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates), [Rate Environment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rate-environment) ## [Will carrier orders of trucks & trailers outpace drivers in 2021?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/overbuy-trucks-trailers-hurt-capacity) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 29, 2021 12:21:38 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages2-02.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/overbuy-trucks-trailers-hurt-capacity) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "Will the carrier preorder/overbuy of trucks and trailers outpace the demand for drivers in 2021 and hurt capacity??"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/overbuy-trucks-trailers-hurt-capacity) Tags: [Capacity Utilization](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/capacity-utilization), [Truck and Trailer](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truck-and-trailer), [Drivers](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/drivers), [spot market](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-market) ## [What are railroads doing to get volume into the system?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/rail-volumes-january2021) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 28, 2021 3:15:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-11.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/rail-volumes-january2021) **The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "Is there anything railroads are doing to get volume into the system?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/rail-volumes-january2021) Tags: [Rail Volume](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-volume), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [Volumes](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/volumes) ## [Can railcar recover without significant increase in utilization?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/recovery-in-rail-equipment-without-significant-utilization-increase) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 25, 2021 12:30:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-18.jpg) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/recovery-in-rail-equipment-without-significant-utilization-increase) **Todd Tranausky was posed with the question, "Can railcar recover without a significant increase in utilization?"** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/recovery-in-rail-equipment-without-significant-utilization-increase) Tags: [railcar](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/railcar), [cube covered hopper](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/cube-covered-hopper), [utilization](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/utilization), [open-top hopper](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/open-top-hopper), [coal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/coal), [sand](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/sand), [scrap](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/scrap) [Previous](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts/page/8) [All posts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/all) [Next](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts/page/10)   ---   ### 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/experts/page/9#) ### 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/experts/page/9#)