New York ? The stock of SCS Transportation Inc. skidded Monday after the trucking company slashed its third-quarter forecast due to lower demand and high costs.

SCS, based in Kansas City, Mo., ramped up its operations in anticipation of a jump in shipping volume. It was caught with higher expenses when the expected increase failed to materialize, according to Sidoti & Co. analyst Robert Dunn.

Shares of SCS closed at $17.80, down $6.70, or 27 percent, Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

SCS cut its third-quarter earnings estimate to between 41 cents and 47 cents a share. In a conference call last month, it projected earnings of 51 cents to 57 cents a share. Wall Street had expected earnings of 55 cents.

The company said its bottom line was hurt by such fixed costs as contracts with other carriers to take freight to places the company doesn’t service, and planned wage increases in August and September.