---
title: Will shift to more services cause another disruption event?
description: The consumer shift to more services could marginally slow freight growth. The only path for big disruption is with widespread mandated business closures.
image: https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-15.jpg
---

[![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)

 

 

# Will shift to more services cause another disruption event?

Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jan 15, 2021 2:00:00 PM

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

**The FTR Experts were posed with the question, "With supply chains shifting to the current buying and service patterns, will a shift back to more services create another March/April like disruption event?"**

This Q&A response from the FTR experts came from the January 2021 State of Freight webinar, [Preparing for 2021](http://www.FTRintel.com/2021). 

 

**Key Takeaway:**

- Consumer shift to more services could marginally slow freight growth.
- The only way we see another big disruption is with widespread mandated business closures.

**FTR Expert Response: **We don’t see any economic shifts like that resulting in a repeat of the March/April contraction. A shift to more services could marginally slow freight growth, but not come close to reversing it. We would have to see widespread mandates of business closures in order to see that type of contraction again. With the change in presidential administration, this dynamic is possible if the pandemic were to escalate further. However, we don’t have any insights into what specific set of conditions might trigger that.

[Read additional Preparing for 2021 Q&A on the FTR Blog.](https://www.ftrintel.com/blog/2021/)

---

 

If you need to manage your transportation spend, or set budgets for rates, only FTR provides history and forecast for truckload rates for spot and contract, coupled with a freight demand outlook that helps you plan for capacity, letting you decide when it makes sense to go short on the spot market, or lock in contracts to secure capacity.   

 Tags: [Freight Volumes](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/freight-volumes), [services](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/services), [disruption](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/disruption)

 

| **Industry-Leading Resources** |
| --- |

**You work hard to strategically plan. Let us make it even easier for you. **

**FTR is the only company offering a full suite of freight and equipment reports with industry-leading forecasts, impartial analysis, and insights to keep you competitive.**

 

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/d81df147-6923-4224-b82b-8f2e6cf0fb03.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/d81df147-6923-4224-b82b-8f2e6cf0fb03)

[![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5867190/8686b978-ae99-49ea-a412-5d1d436baee1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5867190/8686b978-ae99-49ea-a412-5d1d436baee1)

 

 

| **Join the conversation! Leave a comment below.** |
| --- |

 

---

 

### 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/shift-services-create-disruption#)

### 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://www.linkedin.com/company/587939><https://twitter.com/FTRintel>

[**](https://ask.ftrintel.com/shift-services-create-disruption#)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "The FTR Experts",
    "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2021-03-01T15:21:11.827Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-01-15T19:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Will shift to more services cause another disruption event?",
  "image" : [ "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/AskTheExperts_FeaturedImages-15.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/shift-services-create-disruption",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png"
    },
    "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence"
  }
}
```