Shippers Benefitting From Softer Freight Market, Journal Reports

Freight shippers are seeing a more favorable environment because of slipping overall volumes moved by trucks and trains and an abundance of capacity, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The slowdown, which follows a three-year boom in freight with tight capacity, has helped shippers move their products more easily and with some breaks in price, the paper reported.

A large number of shippers are putting their entire freight business out for bid this spring, hoping to lock in lower rates, the Journal reported.

Freight volumes are beginning to show up as being down in both truck and rail first-quarter earnings reports, which are starting to come in, the paper said.

Trucking companies such as J.B. Hunt and rail lines such as CSX this week reported slowdowns in first-quarter volume compared with a year ago that are showing up in reduced earnings for their bottom lines, the Journal said.