In the run-up to Tuesday’s promised barrage of tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, the U.S. industrial sector is not looking so hot — a dark omen for domestic freight demand. For one, construction spending took an unexpected hit in January, down 0.2% from December against consensus expectations of stability. Outlays for private residential projects fell 0.4%, despite a 0.6% monthly rise in single-family spending. …The Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing PMI saw its second straight month of expansion in February, following 26 consecutive months of contraction. …Comments from various sectors all reveal an intense concern over the upcoming tariffs. One anonymous manufacturer of transportation equipment noted that “customers are pausing on new orders as a result of uncertainty regarding tariffs.” …These tariff-induced fears have darkened businesses’ outlook for the year ahead, a quick reversal from January’s jubilance.