TransCore Link Logistics Canadian Freight Index demonstrated a slender gain in volumes in May. Month-over-month load volumes edged up 4% from April.
Despite this gain, year-over-year volumes were down for the fifth consecutive month, decreasing 22% over May 2014.
Cross-border loads leaving Canada fell 23%, and inbound loads coming into Canada fell 21% year-over-year. These volumes averaged 70% of the total data submitted by Loadlink’s Canada-based customers.
Intra-Canada load volumes represented 25% of the total volumes and were down 25% year-over-year. A notable shift in the distribution of loads was observed entering western Canada and into Ontario. Month-over-month, western Canada saw a decrease in loads destined for the region by 15%. In contrast, Ontario saw a 24% increase in loads destined for the province compared to April.
Equipment capacity was relatively flat month-over-month, declining one percent from April 2015. In contrast, truck postings increased 25% year-over-year. The equipment-to-load ratio shifted down to 2.39 from 2.50 in April and from 1.49 compared to May 2014, a 61% improvement year-over-year.