--- title: FTR | Ask the Experts | transportation (5) description: transportation | 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. (5) --- [![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)     ## [What is the current state of the Class 8 market?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/class8-nov-21) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Nov 9, 2021 2:11:28 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/class8-nov-21) **Don Ake discusses heavy truck order activity and build levels.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/class8-nov-21) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [supply chain](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/supply-chain), [Class 8](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/class-8), [orders](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/orders), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [production](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/production), [heavy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/heavy) ## [What is the current GDP outlook?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-nov-21) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Nov 8, 2021 1:46:58 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_economy.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-nov-21) **Don Ake presents an update on the state of the GDP and GDP Goods Transport.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/gdp-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), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [GDP Goods Transport](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/gdp-goods-transport) ## [How much are retailers to blame for congestion issues?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/retailer-congestion) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Nov 5, 2021 11:32:30 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_intermodal.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/retailer-congestion) **Eric Starks and Todd Tranausky discuss ongoing congestion and what part retailers are playing in it. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/retailer-congestion) Tags: [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [congestion](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/congestion), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [retailers](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/retailers) ## [Could we see a price drop in other raw materials like we saw with lumber?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/raw-materials-inflation) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Nov 4, 2021 12:41:03 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/raw-materials-inflation) **Eric Starks, Avery Vise and Todd Tranausky field a question about the price of raw materials during FTR's October State of Freight webinar.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/raw-materials-inflation) Tags: [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [inflation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/inflation), [fuel](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/fuel), [steel](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/steel), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [raw materials](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/raw-materials), [lumber](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/lumber) ## [What is the current state of driver employment?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-employment-21) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Nov 3, 2021 12:25:45 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-employment-21) **Avery Vise gives an update on for-hire trucking jobs and driver hiring activity.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/driver-employment-21) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [employment](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/employment), [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 supply](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-supply), [driver demand](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-demand) ## [What is the current state of truck utilization?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/utilization-oct-21) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Nov 2, 2021 2:07:22 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/utilization-oct-21) **Avery Vise explains active truck utilization and gives an update on where things currently stand.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/utilization-oct-21) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [active utilization](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/active-utilization), [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 supply](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-supply), [driver demand](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/driver-demand) ## [What is the current state of the trucking spot market?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-spot-market-october) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Nov 1, 2021 12:20:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-spot-market-october) **Avery Vise discusses developments in different segments of trucking spot metrics. ** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-spot-market-october) 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), [flatbed](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/flatbed), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [dry van](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/dry-van), [refrigerated](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/refrigerated) ## [What is the Trucking Conditions Index?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-condition-index) Posted by [Avery Vise, VP of Trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/avery-vise) on Oct 28, 2021 3:24:18 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_trucking.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-condition-index) **Avery Vise explains the Trucking Conditions Index in this excerpt from October's State of Freight webinar.** [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/trucking-condition-index) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [trucking](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight), [TCI](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/tci), [Trucking Conditions Index](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/trucking-conditions-index) ## [What are risks to the outlook for intermodal?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-outlook) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Oct 5, 2021 11:43:07 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_intermodal.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-outlook) Todd Tranausky discusses the outlook for intermodal and the factors that could affect it going forward. [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-outlook) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight) ## [What are the current conditions for intermodal?](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-conditions) Posted by [The FTR Experts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/author/experts) on Oct 1, 2021 11:18:14 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://ask.ftrintel.com/hubfs/Ask%20the%20Experts/AskTheExperts_intermodal.png) ](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-conditions) Todd Tranausky discusses the current conditions in the intermodal space. [Read More](https://ask.ftrintel.com/current-intermodal-conditions) Tags: [Economy](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/economy), [intermodal](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/intermodal), [Rail](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/rail), [outlook](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/outlook), [transportation](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation), [state of freight](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/state-of-freight) [Previous](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation/page/4) [All posts](https://ask.ftrintel.com/all) [Next](https://ask.ftrintel.com/tag/transportation/page/6)   ---   ### 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/transportation/page/5#) ### 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/transportation/page/5#)