Spot market freight availability as measured by the DAT North American Freight Index has run high since July 2013 due to factors including extraordinary weather events, regulatory changes and driver shortages. May 2014 extends the trend, becoming the eleventh consecutive month to post a year-over-year record high, a 40 percent increase over last May. Month over month, however, May freight volumes declined 2.1 percent compared to April.

Matt Harding, principal in the Freight Market Intelligence Consortium of Chainalytics, offers a snapshot of the current transportation environment, looking at rates, regulation and other major factors.

Europe continues to fluctuate in and out of recession with ongoing economic austerity which is negatively impacting its output. Based upon its 2012 regional revenue, Armstrong & Associates estimates that 3PLs operating in Europe have penetrated 23 percent of the total potential market, so the trend to outsource logistics functions to 3PLs continues to provide for growth over and above the overall economy. The best European-based 3PLs have made acquisitions to globalize their operations and participate in developing markets with higher rates of growth.

Shipment volume and total freight payments continued to climb in March, ending the first quarter of the year on a high note. Bad weather continued to plague many parts of the country, but transportation seemed to be less affected than in January and February.