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
725 episodes
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
Rail Market Update - Week ending July 25, 2025
This week, Joseph Towers discusses potential Class I mergers—Union Pacific with Norfolk Southern and BNSF with CSX—which could reshape U.S. rail but face steep regulatory hurdles. He also covers new U.S. trade moves with Japan and the EU.
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Episode 252
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9:21
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning July 21, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into some key indicators of the industrial, consumer, and housing sectors, including manufacturing output, retail sales, inventories, and residential construction. Plus, we ...
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Episode 323
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24:32
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning July 14, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update, we review another bit change in spot market rates. Also, we summarize the latest actions related to tariffs and address data on vehicle sales, wholesale inventories, and business app...
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Episode 322
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16:59
Rail Market Update - Week ending July 11, 2025
In the July 10 episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update podcast with Joseph Towers:🔺 Trade & Tariff Developments🌏 Trade Realignment & Import Trends🚢 Port Utilization Trends🚆 Rail Traffic Update (W...
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Episode 251
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12:49
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning July 7, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we examine the latest payroll employment and carrier population data related to for-hire trucking and discuss a big week for spot rates. Plus, we look at the broader labor market, ...
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Episode 321
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28:37
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning June 30, 2025
This episode focuses on a flurry of pro-trucker policy actions from the Department of Transportation, including a national audit of non-domicile CDL practices, withdrawal of a speed limiter rule, and two new pilot programs that allow more flexi...
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Episode 320
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23:01
Rail Market Update - Week ending June 26, 2025
In this episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update, host Joseph Towers covers:FTR Conference: Sept. 8–11 in Indianapolis — trucking and rail focus.Tariffs & Geopolitics:U.S. tariffs may ret...
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Episode 250
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9:23
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning June 23, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some big changes in the fuel and petroleum markets in the wake of big developments in the Middle East. We also examine some key data related to the industrial, consumer, ...
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Episode 319
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21:33
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning June 16, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review some alarming pricing data out of the Bureau of Labor Statistics related to trucking insurance as well as pricing more broadly in the U.S. economy. We also revisit trucki...
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Episode 318
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20:18
Rail Market Update - Week ending June 13, 2025
In this episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update, host Joseph Towers covers:Tariff Update.Rail Traffic – Week Ending June 7Commodity TrendsThe Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Seni...
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Episode 249
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9:37
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning June 9, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into the latest employment data for trucking and related sectors and review the broader employment picture for the economy. We also revisit international trade in goods now ...
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Episode 317
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19:29
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning June 2, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review the latest figures on imports and exports of goods and look at data on consumer spending, inventories, and orders for manufactured goods. Plus, we discuss the entry and e...
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Episode 316
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22:16
Rail Market Update - Week ending May 30, 2025
This weeks topics include: FTR ConferenceTariff UpdateRail TrafficUinta Rail Line The Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Towers. As this i...
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Episode 248
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11:48
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning May 26, 2024
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we review several important developments in Washington related to trucking. We also examine revenues for trucking in the first quarter and sales for new and existing homes in April...
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Episode 315
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18:44
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning May 19, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we dig into some key indicators of the industrial, consumer, and retail sectors and discuss the latest pricing data for consumers and businesses. Plus, we recap the week in diesel ...
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Episode 314
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18:02
Rail Market Update - Week ending May 16, 2025
This week's topics include: RSI Conference and ExpoTariff Update Rail traffic updateThe Rail Market Update is hosted by FTR’s Senior Analyst, Rail, Joseph Towers. As this inform...
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Episode 247
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9:38
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning May 12, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss the temporary trade deal between the U.S. and China and revisit trade data for March now that we have more detailed data. Plus, we recap the week in the spot marke...
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Episode 313
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18:15
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning May 5, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss so much stuff that it is too unwieldy to list it all here, but it includes the latest data on payroll employment in trucking and changes in the for-hire carrier populati...
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Episode 312
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30:25
Trucking Market Update - Week Beginning April 28, 2025
In this week’s episode of FTR’s Trucking Market Update podcast, we discuss the Trump administration’s new policy on English proficiency and its exploration of tariffs or quotas regarding heavy-duty trucks. We also review the latest data from FM...
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Episode 311
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21:12