Industrial demand picks up at last, some trucking companies report

Struggling industrial demand has revealed the manufacturing sector’s critical importance to the trucking industry during the freight recession of the past two years.

Some carriers finally began reporting green shoots in Q4 earnings calls, after prolonged industrial weakness skewed their freight mixes toward less-profitable retail shipments.

Others are still waiting to record a noticeable bump in manufacturing demand, even as the Institute for Supply manufacturing index flipped positive, indicating a return to growth, in January. 

We’ve pulled together some executives’ commentary to provide a glimpse of what they’re seeing — and anticipating this year — from their industrial customers. 

Old Dominion’s industrial demand outpaces retail

Old Domini…