--- title: FTR | Ask the Experts | Economy (4) description: Economy | 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. (4) --- [![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)     ## [How are new trucking companies affecting driver employment?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/new-trucking-companies-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 31, 2021 10:17:04 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/new-trucking-companies-august) **Avery Vise discusses the surge in new trucking companies over the past year and what effect it has on driver employment.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/new-trucking-companies-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [driver shortage](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [for-hire trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/for-hire-trucking), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [driver capacity](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity), [trucking companies](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-companies) ## [What is the current state of for-hire trucking jobs?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/for-hire-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 30, 2021 9:50:20 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/for-hire-august) **Avery Vise discusses for-hire trucking jobs and how payroll jobs are recovering.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/for-hire-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [driver shortage](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [for-hire trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/for-hire-trucking), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [driver capacity](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity) ## [What factors are affecting driver capacity?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-capacity-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 30, 2021 9:38:57 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-capacity-august) **Avery Vise takes a look at the factors currently inhibiting driver capacity.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-capacity-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [driver shortage](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-shortage), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [driver capacity](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-capacity) ## [What is the current outlook for truckload rates?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 26, 2021 1:03:31 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-august) **Avery Vise examines year-over-year changes in truckload rates and compares spot vs contract rates.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/truckload-rates-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [Truckload Rates](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/truckload-rates), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [spot rates](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-rates), [contract rates](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/contract-rates) ## [What is the current state of the spot market?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/spot-market-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 25, 2021 4:08:45 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/spot-market-august) **Avery Vise discusses the loads and rates of dry vans, refrigerated and flatbed.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/spot-market-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [spot market](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/spot-market), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight) ## [What are some current economic issues to keep an eye on?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-issues-august) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Aug 25, 2021 2:35:39 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-issues-august) **Avery Vise discusses goods & services spending, retail inventories, and other economic factors to watch closely.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/economic-issues-august) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [inflation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [savings](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/savings) ## [Has Precision Scheduled Railroading made good on its promised improvements?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/psr-improvements-2021) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jul 21, 2021 12:55:50 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_railequipment.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/psr-improvements-2021) **Eric Starks and Todd Tranausky discuss what PSR has set out to achieve and which of those goals it has fulfilled. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/psr-improvements-2021) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [recovery](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [rail equipment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment), [psr](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/psr) ## [What is the cause of the recent gondola shortage?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gondola-shortage-cause) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jul 21, 2021 12:45:49 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_Rail.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gondola-shortage-cause) **Eric Starks and Todd Tranausky focus on the shortage of gondolas and what the underlying cause is. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gondola-shortage-cause) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [recovery](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [rail equipment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment), [metals](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/metals), [gondola](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gondola) ## [How will a lull in auto production affect steel supply and pricing?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/auto-production-steel) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jul 21, 2021 12:32:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_railequipment.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/auto-production-steel) **Eric Starks and Todd Tranausky discuss auto production and what a shutdown will mean for steel.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/auto-production-steel) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [recovery](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [rail equipment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment), [box cars](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/box-cars), [steel](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/steel), [auto production](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/auto-production) ## [What is the state of box cars in 2021?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/box-cars-2021) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Jul 19, 2021 12:43:53 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_Rail.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/box-cars-2021) **Todd Tranausky discusses where the box car segment is at and where it looks to be headed. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/box-cars-2021) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [recovery](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/recovery), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [rail equipment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail-equipment), [beverages](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/beverages), [box cars](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/box-cars) [Previous](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy/page/3) [All posts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/all) [Next](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy/page/5)   ---   ### 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/tag/economy/page/4#) ### 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/tag/economy/page/4#)