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NAPLES, Fla. — Trucking and freight companies of all kinds are confident that the economic environment will remain strong throughout 1999, despite some forecasts of an overdue downturn.

Many of the 65 executives speaking at the annual transportation and aerospace conference sponsored by BT Alex. Brown, a New York investment firm, were not fearful of the Asian financial crisis, Brazil’s economic problems or predictions that the United States would experience a slump. Instead, the executives predicted the good times would continue to roll as the millennium draws to a close.

“If you don’t read the Wall Street Journal, then everything seems to point in a pretty good direction right now,” said Jerry C. Moyes, chairman of Swift Transportation Co. of Phoenix. “We’re working with our shippers, and they seem very optimistic.”

Moyes expects to see trucking rate increases of about 2%, but said that may be optimistic considering the record-low price of fuel.

Werner Enterprises of Omaha, Neb., is also expecting 1999 to be a good year for freight. Its executive vice president, Robert E. Synowicki Jr., said he hopes to end the year with 7,000 trucks and more than $1 billion in revenue.

“So far, we haven’t seen a freight slowdown. It still seems very strong, and we’re in the second week in February,” Synowicki said. “Right now, we don’t see it happening this year.”

For the full story, see the Feb. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.