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
761 episodes
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 23, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we revisit diesel and crude prices and related changes in the spot market for truck freight. We also address sales of new homes, pricing at the producer level, inventories and sale...
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Episode 357
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24:00
Rail Market Update - Week ending March 20, 2026
In this episode of FTR’s Rail Market Update, host Joseph Towers covers:The impact of Iran on rail trafficContainer activity at the Port of Los AngelesWeekly traffic update The Rail Market ...
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Episode 265
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10:35
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 16, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we revisit diesel prices after the previous week’s record surge, and we consider what that increase meant for the spot market for truck freight. We also review some key indicators ...
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Episode 356
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23:30
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 9, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss the largest one-week spike in diesel prices in history and address the latest data on payroll employment, retail sales, and a few other metrics, along with the latest we...
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Episode 355
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22:35
Rail Market Update - Week ending March 6, 2026
In this episode of FTR’s Rail Market Update, host Joseph Towers covers:The Supreme Courts decision and implications to railWeekly rail traffic The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analy...
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Episode 264
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11:49
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning March 2, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review changes in the for-hire carrier population during February and consider what’s going on with diesel prices and the spot market for truck freight. We also review pricing i...
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Episode 354
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19:19
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 23, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss revenues for the trucking industry in the fourth quarter of last year and for all of 2025. We also review economic growth in the fourth quarter and examine key economic ...
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Episode 353
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29:14
Rail Market Update - Week ending February 20, 2026
In this episode of FTR’s Rail Market Update, host Joseph Towers covers:UP-NS merger update Port of Los Angeles container data Weekly rail traffic The Rail Market Update is hosted ...
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Episode 263
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8:43
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 16, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into the latest payroll employment data on trucking, including substantial data revisions that change our view of capacity in the market. We also discuss a final rule on non...
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Episode 352
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28:39
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 9, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some developments related to the English language proficiency requirement and discuss several other topics specific to the trucking industry, including overall market con...
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Episode 351
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27:41
Rail Market Update - Week ending February 6, 2026
In this episode of FTR’s Rail Market Update, host Joseph Towers covers:Weekly rail trafficBreaking down the latest ARCI reportThe Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Towers...
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Episode 262
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8:07
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning February 2, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss a huge week in the spot market for truck freight. We also review U.S. trade in goods, pricing at the producer level, inventories and sales in the wholesale sector, and d...
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Episode 350
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18:01
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 26, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review indicators of manufacturing demand, consumer spending and pricing, vehicle sales, construction spending, and establishments of new businesses. Plus, we recap the week in ...
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Episode 349
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20:30
Rail Market Update - Week ending January 23, 2026
In this episode of FTR’s Rail Market Update, host Joseph Towers covers:STB's ruling of the UP-NS application as "incomplete"Weekly rail trafficThe Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Ra...
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Episode 261
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10:34
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 19, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review several key indicators of the industrial, consumer, and housing sectors of the economy and recap the week in the spot market for truck freight. The Trucking M...
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Episode 348
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19:58
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning January 12, 2026
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss payroll employment in trucking and for the overall U.S. economy. We also address residential construction and U.S. trade in goods. Plus, we recap the week in diesel pric...
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Episode 347
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18:54
Rail Market Update - Week ending January 9, 2026
In this episode Joseph Towers opens the year with a comprehensive review of full-year 2025 rail traffic, highlighting modest overall growth driven by grains and coal, continued softness in industrial commodities such as metals and forest produc...
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Episode 260
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14:22
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