Insights - July 2015 - (Page 19)

FREIGHT - from page 15 Go to www.intermodal.org for information on subscribing to IANA's Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics. Truck Ton Index Resumes Decline The American Trucking Associations' advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index is dropping again. According to a May 19 ATA report, the index for April fell 3 percent to 128.6 compared with a 2000 baseline figure of 100. The April decline followed a March in which the index rose 0.4 percent, revised from ATA's initial report of a 1.1 percent increase. Compared with April 2014, the index gained just 1 percent in April of this year, the smallest year-over-year increase in more than two years. "Like most economic indicators, truck tonnage was soft in April," said ATA's chief economist, Bob Costello, who noted that, through April, truck tonnage was off 5.3 percent from its alltime high in January. "Unless tonnage snaps back in May and June, GDP growth will likely be suppressed in the second quarter. "The next couple of months will be telling for both truck freight and the broader economy," he added. "Any significant jump from the first quarter is looking more doubtful." State Legislative Update Tennessee OKs Larger Loads In Tennessee, a measure taking effect July 1 increases allowable size and weight for various tractor-trailer configurations. The bill, S.B. 817, was signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam following passage in both chambers of the Volunteer State's legislature. Go to bit.ly/TNtrucks for details. Other bills specific to facilitation of larger loads on trucks in all or part of respective states include those being mulled in Florida (S.B. 1554), Illinois (S.B. 1390, with S.R. 233 opposing a weight limit increase), Michigan (H.B. 4257, H.B. 4568, S.B. 168 and S.B. 274), Missouri (H.C.R. 48, carrying over to 2016), South Carolina (H.R. 3789) and and Texas (H.B. 2085, H.B. 3722 and S.B 1059). In New Jersey, a bill, S.B. 2924, has been introduced to authorize local tax on storage of empty shipping containers. In Florida, H.B. 257 was signed into law June 10, to take effect July 1, defining "freight logistics zone" for purposes of encouraging freight mobility advances in the Sunshine State. Measures aiming at enhancing trade and transportation opportunities are being considered in several other statehouses, including in California (S.B. 63), Connecticut July 2015 | Intermodal Insights 19 http://www.bit.ly/TNtrucks http://www.intermodal.org http://www.triniumtech.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - July 2015

Contents
Fed Update
Highway Funding to Expire July 31
Changes to IANA Bylaws Proposed
U. of Md., IANA Team on Intermodal Job Portal
Information Services News
Exclusive Report: Fed Economist to Share Outlook at Intermodal EXPO 2015
Exclusive Report: Asset-Tracking Advances from ‘Dots on Map’
Freight Reports
Yearly Traffic Chart
EXPO Education Session by Stakeholder Interests
State Legislative Update
Port News
Seattle, Tacoma Advance Alliance
Federal Official Tours PSI Plant
People in the News
In Brief
2015 Sponsors
New Members
Industry Calendar

Insights - July 2015