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FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index increased slightly in August to 2.3, the sixth-straight month that FTR has recorded a reading in "positive territory," which reflects a healthy environment for trucking, according to the transportation forecasting firm.

An expected 4 percent freight growth, limited driver capacity and fleet downsizing will keep the index in positive territory through 2011, FTR Associates predicts.

“Conditions for trucking are positive in spite of sluggish growth in the overall economy because manufacturing, which generates freight, is growing much more rapidly than services,” said Eric Starts, president of FTR Associates in a prepared statement. “The freight growth along with capacity shortages we have been forecasting bodes well for trucking companies over the next couple of years at a minimum.”