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Rising costs, idle trucks, and lower demand have made made 2001 a bad year for the US trucking industry. Several companies, however, have taken steps to keep costs down, and truckers should see a better year in 2002. These stocks are not timely for investors in 2001.

Trucking and transport leasing stocks have declined since the beginning of the year 2000, due to concerns over driver capacity and rising fuel costs. Slower economic growth and the high turnover among truck drivers is having a negative effect on the industry and a possible slowdown for trucking demand. Investors may find some buying opportunities here, although these stocks have underperformed the market.

The robust US domestic economy continues to benefit the trucking and transport leasing industry and the truckload sector is expected to increase rates in the near future. However, the tight market for drivers, inflation, and rising fuel costs has caused share prices to weaken in late 1999, and prospects are mixed in spite of improved less-than-truckload fundamentals. Investors will find many of these share timely and several have good prospects for the next three to five years.

The strong domestic economy in the US has benefited the trucking and transport leasing industry by boosting demand and expansion and setting the stage for rate and yield increases. The less-than-truckload segment of the industry will likely see good revenues, earnings, and margins for 1999 and the year 2000, but rising fuel costs and other factors make this more difficult to forecast for the longer term. These stocks are timely for 1999 and for the next three to five years, as well.

The economic fundamentals for the trucking industry remain solid in 1999 and the growth trends for the truckload sector are good with consolidation and outsourcing in other industries being major factors. Strong demand for shipping is also providing favorable prospects for the less-than-truckload segment of the industry, but rising fuel prices have become a concern. These stocks are timely for 1999 and the year 2000, and several have price appreciation potential for the next three to five years.

Good industry fundamentals and strong demand, coupled with lower fuel prices, have benefited the trucking and transport leasing industry in 1998 and have given these companies good margins and profits during the 4th qtr of the year. There has been, however, a driver shortage and many companies have had to hire owner-operators, and this is expected to remain the case through the first six months of 1999. These stocks are timely in 1999 and several have potential for capital appreciation for the next three to five years.