Best trucking month ever? | New trucks-only highway in Georgia

Trucking market conditions hit new all-time high in May: FTR

Market conditions for trucking companies hit an all-time high in May, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence.

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index in May jumped to 20.4 -- its strongest level ever due mostly to highly favorable freight rates for carriers. The April index reading had been 11.6.FTR

Prior to May, the most favorable TCI reading for carriers had been 16.8 in February 2021. FTR expects the index to settle in the coming months but to remain solidly positive.

“A record high for the TCI obviously is notable, but it is also a good occasion for us to acknowledge the obvious: Robust market conditions have developed recently and rapidly after several years of tough going for most of the trucking industry,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “Many carriers have a long way to go to repair their finances and return to consistent and acceptable margins.”

Vise added that outside of a “few pockets of freight strength due largely to massive investment in artificial intelligence,” freight rates’ sharp recovery “is principally a function of already-tight capacity followed by a series of disruptions, including pressure on foreign drivers and, more recently, the need for fuel cost recovery.”

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Vise said he expects the market rebound to “hit a ceiling soon, unless freight demand strengthens considerably” as “broad-based volume growth remains elusive.”

[Related: Clifford C. Hay Inc., up from ashes, with new hurdles after crashes: Small Fleet Champ update]

New trucks-only highway opening next week in Georgia to ease congestion from Port

The Georgia Department of Transportation will open a high-volume freight corridor in Savannah July 15, streamlining the flow of goods at one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S.  

The $126 million Brampton Road Connector is a new four-lane highway linking Garden City Terminal’s Gate 3 directly to I-16, removing at-grade rail crossings and truck traffic from local neighborhoods. 

The project gives truck drivers faster access to the Port of Savannah and a more streamlined route to inland markets, Georgia Ports Authority said in a release.Georgia Ports Authority

“We want to thank our partners at the Georgia DOT for their important work creating freight corridors that improve local communities and safer traffic flow for the future,” said Georgia Ports CEO Griff Lynch. “Our trucking community will also achieve faster turn times at the port with safer routings inland, benefiting Savannah supply chain speeds.”

The Brampton Road project is the final piece in a series of GDOT projects establishing a cargo beltway in Savannah. Over the past 12 years, GDOT has invested nearly $600 million in roadway projects that also include:

• Reconstructing the I-16/I-95 interchange and widening I-16, a $295 million project improving the safety and flow of commuters and cargo moving on and off each interstate.
• Jimmy Deloach Parkway, a $129 million, limited-access truck route linking Garden City Terminal with Interstates 16 and 95.
• Highway 307 overpass, a $22.5 million project carrying vehicular traffic over the Port of Savannah’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal and allowing for the free flow of trucks and trains.
• Grange Road upgrade, a $14.2 million project providing better truck access between Jimmy Deloach Parkway and Garden City Terminal.

“Improving the mobility of freight traffic from the port and increasing safety for motorists on local streets are key goals for this project. The Brampton Road Connector accomplishes both simultaneously,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry. “The delivery of new freight corridors and upgrades to key interchanges in the Savannah area are great examples of Georgia DOT’s commitment to improving safety on our roadways and mobility for both people and goods.”

[Related: Georgia Ports Authority app aims to speed up on-terminal process]

Texas beginning project to convert weigh station to truck parking

A project to provide parking for commercial truck drivers along the I-30 corridor in Titus County, Texas, is scheduled to begin this month, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Work will include reconstructing the existing westbound I-30 weigh station area west of Mount Pleasant, along with extending the entrance and exit ramps.

“Safe truck parking impacts the safety of all motorists,” said Mount Pleasant Area Engineer Wendy Starkes. “However, finding safe parking is a critical challenge for commercial truck drivers,”

Work is expected to begin on Monday, July 13, and take about 15 months to complete. The estimated completion date is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

During the first phase of construction, there will be a WB I-30 lane closure, expected to be in place until late 2026. Once complete, the improved weigh station area will offer about 22 commercial truck parking spaces.

Texas is already considered by truck drivers tops in the nation for truck parking availability. A 2025 survey of Overdrive readers ranked the Lone Star State No. 1 in the nation for best parking by a wide margin in the 2025 Truckers' Highway Report Card.

[Related: Fix the potholes! Truckers' Highway Report Card 'Best Roads' states lay paths forward]