Cass Freight Index

Bad vibes in the market for new Class 8 rigs

Bad vibes in the market for new Class 8 rigs

For fleets looking to purchase new equipment, concern over tariffs and an ongoing lack of extra cash continue to complicate their plans. Recent data from ACT Research’s March For-Hire Trucking Index showed fleet purchasing intentions at 35% compared to a historical average of 56% for February.

The report notes: “Tariff uncertainty, which has thrown a wrench into business planning, is likely one factor dampening future equipment purchases, but three...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bad-vibes-in-the-market-for-new-class-8-rigs

February freight trends mixed, outlook ‘fraught with uncertainty’

February data from Cass Information Systems showed a claw back of what was lost to weather in January, but uncertainty overhangs an already sluggish freight market.

Freight volumes snapped back in February, up 10.5% from January, but remained pressured compared to last year, down 5.5% year over year. Normal seasonality, a recovery from harsh weather in January and shippers importing goods ahead of tariffs were cited as catalysts behind the latest sequential change.

February shipments increased...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/february-freight-trends-mixed-outlook-fraught-with-uncertainty

Cass TL linehaul index up y/y for first time in 2 years

January data from Cass Information Systems showed truckload linehaul rates turned positive on a year-over-year comparison for the first time in two years. However, shipments remained soft.

The TL linehaul index, which tracks rates without fuel and accessorial surcharges, posted a 0.8% y/y increase for the month. This was the first positive y/y change since December 2022. The index also increased 0.6% from December, the fifth consecutive sequential increase.

Winter storms in January were more...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cass-tl-linehaul-index-up-y-y-for-first-time-in-2-years

Freight volumes plunge in December, rates firming

December data from Cass Information Systems showed a significant drop in freight shipments as expenditures were off by a lesser amount, implying freight rates moved higher during the month. Truckload linehaul rates continued to improve from August’s cycle low, a Tuesday report revealed.

Freight volumes captured by the Cass Freight Index fell 7.3% from November and were off 6.5% year over year. Even excluding the typical November-to-December seasonal dip, the index was off 3.1%, which wiped away...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-volumes-plunge-in-december-rates-firming

November Cass data shows improvement

November data from Cass Information Systems showed sequential improvement in shipments and expenditures with the year-over-year declines narrowing.

The volumes component of the Cass Freight Index was up 0.5% from October (2.8% higher seasonally adjusted) and down just 0.7% y/y, the smallest decline in 21 months. A Thursday report credited “ongoing economic growth and slowing private fleet capacity additions” as the reasons for the improvement.

November 2024y/y2-yearm/mm/m (SA)
Shipments

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/november-cass-data-shows-improvement

Trucking outlook: ‘Sugar high’ or sustained upswing?

Morgan Stanley 2025 Transportation Outlook: ‘Sugar high’ or sustained upswing?
(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley released its 2025 Transportation Outlook, which describes the next year as likely a tale of two halves, one with a powerful restocking-driven upcycle followed by the fears of a downcycle beginning in 2026. For the upcycle, there are many unanswered questions, including how long it will last. Historically there was an 18-month restocking cycle in 2018 and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-outlook-sugar-high-or-sustained-upswing

Freight shipments, spend see no lift in October, Cass data shows

Freight shipments and spend were again under water in October, according to data from Cass Information Systems.

The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index fell 2.4% year over year during the month and was off 1.9% from September (down just 0.1% seasonally adjusted). October marked the second straight sequential decline for the dataset.

“Although goods demand growth is driving broad freight volume growth, as can be seen in intermodal, imports, and freight GDP, it is still not reaching the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-shipments-spend-see-no-lift-in-october-cass-data-shows

ATRI’s ‘Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry’ report spotlights parking woes

ATRI’s ‘Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry’ report spotlights parking woes

(Source: ATRI)

The American Transportation Research Institute recently released its report outlining what over 3,700 industry stakeholder respondents across North America see as the most critical issues facing the trucking industry. The report remarks, “among respondents represented were motor carrier executives and personnel (45.9%), professional truck drivers (31.3%) and other industry stakeholders (22.8%),...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/atris-critical-issues-in-the-trucking-industry-report-spotlights-parking-woes

Cass notes ‘signs of price stabilization’ in soft September update

September data from Cass Information Systems showed “signs of price stabilization” even as volumes continued to reflect a soft demand environment.

The Cass Freight Index showed shipments fell 5.2% year over year during September and 2.6% from August when seasonally adjusted. The y/y decline was the largest since June, outpacing declines of just 1.9% in August and 1.1% in July, and worse than the forecast calling for the dataset to be down just 3% during the month.

The freight volume index is now...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cass-notes-signs-of-price-stabilization-in-soft-september-update

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