FTR | State of Freight
State of Freight is a series of industry resources from FTR, the leader in market intelligence and forecasting for the North American freight transportation industry. FTR podcasts provide updates for the Trucking and Rail markets, as well as the broader economy. Each podcast includes a slide deck of graphs that can be used in presentations or for internal analysis. For show downloads and to signup for more State of Freight content, go to www.FTRintel.com/podcast.
Episodes
744 episodes
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 5, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss the changes in the for-hire trucking firm population in December and the number of heavy-duty truck orders during the month. We also review U.S. Gross Domestic Pro...
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Episode 346
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20:23
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 22, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review several metrics that suggest that trucking capacity has tightened, including stronger than seasonal performance for spot rates. We also discuss some key economic indicato...
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Episode 345
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20:32
Rail Market Update - Week ending December 19, 2025
This episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update focuses on year-end trends in North American rail traffic, with Joseph Towers breaking down the latest carload and intermodal performance by commodity and carrier. The podcast also addresse...
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Episode 259
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9:12
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 15, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest data on payroll employment and wages in trucking and the employment situation for the U.S. economy as a whole. We also discuss trucking industry revenues for t...
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Episode 344
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21:20
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 8, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we briefly discuss some recent safety enforcement moves and examine the change in the for-hire carrier population in November. We also review indicators related to the industrial a...
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Episode 343
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20:26
Rail Market Update - Week ending December 5, 2025
This week’s Rail and Intermodal Update delivers a concise look at rail traffic trends as the industry moves through a quiet holiday period with limited major news expected. Joseph Towers highlights the upcoming Midwest Association of Rail...
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Episode 258
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7:24
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning December 1, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some indicators of the industrial and consumer sectors and pricing for freight transportation services and selected trucking cost centers. Plus, we recap the week in dies...
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Episode 342
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18:01
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning November 24, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine payroll employment in trucking and broader economic and review indicators on housing and trade. We also discuss an annual revision of industrial production figures that ...
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Episode 341
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20:51
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning November 17, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss court action last week blocking a new rule regarding non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses and recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight...
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Episode 340
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17:56
Rail Market Update - Week ending November 14, 2025
In today’s episode, Joseph Towers recaps key takeaways from FTR’s recent Houston events and breaks down the latest railcar and intermodal trends. He highlights weak new car orders, declining backlogs, and a softer outlook for builders heading i...
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Episode 257
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9:28
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning November 10, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the drug and alcohol clearinghouse and enforcement of the English language proficiency requirement fo...
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Episode 339
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19:20
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning November 3, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review changes in the for-hire carrier population in October and discuss a key indicator of the health of the manufacturing sector. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and ...
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Episode 338
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14:56
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 27, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the limited economic indicators we have during the government shutdown, including figures on consumer inflation and sales of existing homes. Plus, we examine some surpris...
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Episode 337
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14:05
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 20, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the new tariffs that will be imposed on medium- and heavy-duty trucks as of November 1. Plus, we recap the latest week for mortgage rates, diesel prices, and the spot mar...
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Episode 336
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14:37
Rail Market Update - Week ending October 17, 2025
New Mexican regulation: Requires GPS tracking (updating every 30 seconds) and large QR codes on all U.S. petroleum exports to Mexico transported by rail or truck. Railcars without GPS must comply within 30 days — a tight and challen...
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Episode 256
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7:37
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 13, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine English language proficiency violations since they became an out-of-service violation in June. Plus, we recap the week in diesel prices and the spot market for truck fre...
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Episode 334
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17:32
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning October 6, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we consider a few non-governmental economic indicators since that’s about all we have for now. Plus, we discuss the latest on truck tariffs and changes in the for-hire carrier popu...
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Episode 334
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16:35
Rail Market Update - Week ending October 3, 2025
This weeks Rail Market Update covers:Leadership Shift at CSX: Joe Hinrichs departs, Steve Angel steps in as CEO, raising questions about future strategy.STB in the Spotlight: Robert Primus files lawsuit over wrongful...
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Episode 255
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9:52
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning September 29, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest data on home sales, international trade, consumer spending, and inventories. Plus, we discuss some major news out of Washington related to trucking and recap t...
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Episode 333
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14:51
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning September 22, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into some key freight-related economic indicators, including manufacturing production, retail sales, and inventories. Plus, we recap the week in the spot market for truck fr...
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Episode 332
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16:27
Rail Market Update - Week ending September 19, 2025
This week in the Rail Market Update:STB Developments: President Trump nominated Dick Closter to replace Marty Oberman on the Surface Transportation Board and renominated Michelle Schultz, while Robert Primus continues to cont...
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Episode 254
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9:36
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning September 15, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review a preliminary revision in employment data and how it might affect how we view trucking capacity. We also revisit trucking industry revenues during the second quarter and ...
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Episode 331
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20:12
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning September 8, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine payroll employment in trucking and in the broader economy and look at economic indicators related to manufacturing and trade. Plus, we recap the week in the spot market ...
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Episode 330
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17:03
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning September 1, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review changes in the for-hire trucking firm population in August and dig into indicators related to manufacturing, consumption and inventories. Plus, we recap the week in diese...
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Episode 329
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18:56
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning August 25, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we consider the consequences of a single truck crash and review revenues for the trucking industry during the second quarter. Plus, we discuss several key metrics related to the ho...
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Episode 328
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27:58
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning August 18, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest figures on industrial production and manufacturing output, retail sales, vehicle sales, inventories and pricing for consumers and the supply chain. Plus, we re...
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Episode 327
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21:48
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning August 11, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review data on trade and wholesale inventories, discuss the latest developments on tariffs, and address the latest data from FMCSA’s drug and alcohol clearinghouse. Plus, we rec...
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Episode 326
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16:39
Rail Market Update - Week ending August 8, 2025
In this week's episode of our Rail Market Update, Joseph talks about: Biggest industry news: Proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, potentially creating the first coast-to-coast Class I railroad since 186...
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Episode 253
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9:15
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning August 4, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review payroll employment and population changes related to trucking and discuss other data on employment, trade, manufacturing, and consumption as well as economic data for Q2....
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Episode 325
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25:43
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning July 28, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we look at key indicators of the housing market and demand for manufactured products and we review some of the latest trade deals. Plus, we examine the latest data on pre-employmen...
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Episode 324
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20:22