AMERICAN consumers, fearing the coronavirus, have begun panic buying causing ripples up the supply chain, reports New York's FreightWaves.
Hoarding is causing a surge in domestic freight volumes. The outbound tender volume index is now at 11,224.85, which is the highest point in its three-year history.
After surging six per cent last week, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) is up another seven per cent since then. Two weeks ago, it predicted a jump in volumes from a typical 'March bump,' but failed to properly forecast this type of rise.
Reefer volumes have ticked up over the past week, but the most of this upswing is from increasing dry van volumes. It is dry van volumes that are driving the index higher.
WORLD SHIPPING
Hoarding is causing a surge in domestic freight volumes. The outbound tender volume index is now at 11,224.85, which is the highest point in its three-year history.
After surging six per cent last week, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) is up another seven per cent since then. Two weeks ago, it predicted a jump in volumes from a typical 'March bump,' but failed to properly forecast this type of rise.
Reefer volumes have ticked up over the past week, but the most of this upswing is from increasing dry van volumes. It is dry van volumes that are driving the index higher.
WORLD SHIPPING