Cass Transportation Index Report March 2021

Get the most up-to-date data and insights into shipping volumes and the cost of freight. See how they change each month and understand the market forces behind them.

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  March 2021 Year-over-year change 2-year stacked change Month-to-month change Month-to-month change (SA)*
Cass Freight Index - Shipments 1.196 10.0% -0.1% 5.8% 3.4%
Cass Freight Index - Expenditures 3.379 27.5% 17.0% 7.9% 6.5%
Truckload Linehaul Index 143.10 10.1% 2.8% 2.0% NA

 

* We've added seasonally adjusted data for the shipments and expenditures indexes. The Truckload Linehaul Index is already seasonally adjusted.

Cass Freight Index - Shipments

The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index® reaccelerated in March to a 10.0% y/y increase, recovering from the slowdown to 4.1% in February from the polar vortex and then some. The index increased 5.8% m/m from February, part of which is normal seasonality, but the increase was still up 3.4% m/m in March on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis. This more than reversed the 3.2% m/m decline in February (SA) due to the weather event.

This freight volume improvement is consistent with our optimistic outlook, supported by inventory levels, consumer trends, and the backlog of freight anchored off U.S. ports. Near-term supply chain risks remain and, following the Suez Canal blockage, could briefly spread beyond the semiconductor shortages that will affect vehicle production at least through Q2 and perhaps considerably longer. However,

  • If the Cass shipments index just takes a normal seasonal pattern from here, it will be up over 30% y/y in Q2.
  • On a two-year stacked basis, the Cass shipments index was just 0.1% below March 2019, or essentially flat with the pre-crisis level.

 

Chart: Cass Shipments Index, January 2009 – March 2021 (01’1990=1.00)

March 2021 Cass Shipments

 

See the methodology for the Cass Freight Index.

 

Cass Freight Index - Expenditures

The expenditures component of the Cass Freight Index posted its third all-time record in the past four months in March, and was 27.5% above year-ago levels, surging from 16.9% y/y growth in February.

The acceleration came nearly evenly from both volumes and rates. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the 6.5% m/m jump in the Cass expenditures index came from a 3.4% m/m increase in the shipments, and a 3.5% m/m increase in the embedded rates.

Strong momentum continued in freight rate trends, with this month nearly off the chart, and we sense an axis adjustment on the way. This acceleration suggests Q2 y/y comparisons will be in the 40%-50% range, compared to the shutdown.

 

Chart: Cass Expenditures Index, January 2009 – March 2021 (01’1990=1.00)

March 2021 Cass Expenditures

 

Freight Rates

A simple calculation of the Cass Freight Index data (expenditures divided by shipments) produces a data set of “implied freight rates” that explains the overall movement in rates.

The freight rates embedded in the two components of the Cass Freight Index accelerated to a 15.8% y/y increase in March from a 12.3% y/y increase in February. The embedded rates rose 3.5% m/m on a seasonally adjusted basis, consistent with the rising trend of the past five months now. We still expect this trend to press higher near-term, as strong freight demand meets shortages of both drivers and trucks.

This data series is diversified among all modes, with truckload representing more than half of the dollars, followed by rail, LTL, parcel, and so on.

 

Chart: Cass Implied Freight Rates, January 2009 – March 2021 (01’1990=1.00)

March 2021 Cass Implied Rates

 

Truckload Linehaul Index

The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index® value of 143.1 in March exceeded the prior all-time record of 142.4 in October 2018, accelerating to an 10.1% y/y increase in March from an 8.1% y/y increase in February. On a m/m basis, the seasonally adjusted index was 2.0% higher than February, in the ninth straight increase.

As a reminder, the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index measures market fluctuations in per-mile truckload linehaul rates.

This trend is likely to persist with significant shortages of the two critical parts of transportation capacity: drivers and trucks. Driver availability is very low, as shown below, with demographics tightening and economic stimulus impacting driver school attendance. Meanwhile, parts shortages are likely to limit truck production at least through the first half of 2021 and likely beyond.

With a positive demand outlook and tight capacity, this setup suggests the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index will continue to rise in the near-term.

 

Chart: Cass Truckload Linehaul Index®, January 2009 – March 2021 (01’1990=1.00)

March 2021 Cass TL Index

 

See the methodology for the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.

 

Freight Expectations

The freight cycle is nearly in full swing as all of our index values, with the sole exception of the shipments data, posted new record highs this month.

The accelerating growth in our shipments index should continue consistent with the story on the railroads, and 2021 is setting up to be an extraordinarily strong year across the U.S. freight network. Since the strong rebound early in March from the polar vortex, rail trends have continued modestly above normal seasonal patterns, but the acceleration in the y/y data below in early-April is mainly due to easing prior year comparisons. Similar to the Cass Freight Index data, rail volumes will show extraordinary y/y growth in the coming months.

 

March 2021 weekly rail by segment

 

Trucking appears to be experiencing a similar pattern, and we should expect 30%-ish y/y increases in the next few months against the economic shutdown period in Q2 of last year. The focus should remain on sequential, seasonally adjusted trends in the coming months as the enormous y/y changes will be less informative.

While the strong freight market dynamics are primarily driven by the consumer sector, the industrial side of the U.S. economy continues to be challenged by supply chain shortages, mainly related to semiconductors. A frequent question we’re receiving is about how quickly these will be resolved. The readout from the White House meeting on 4/12 with industry leaders on this topic says short- and long-term solutions were discussed, including adding domestic capacity. Our understanding is the typical lead time on building new semiconductor capacity is about 18-24 months, so freight equipment capacity could be constrained longer than a few more months. While we believe the industry will find solutions sooner, this situation could add even more upward pressure on freight rates.

In addition to strong demand and tight equipment supply, the driver shortage is a major factor in the freight market equation. While it’s a complex issue (and discussed in depth in the ACT Freight Forecast Report), the record low driver availability here in early 2021 has perhaps played an even larger role in driving freight rates to record levels recently than the truck production challenges.

 

March 2021 ACT Driver Availability

 

The ACT Freight Forecast provides data-driven predictions for supply, demand and rates in the truckload, LTL, and intermodal markets over a three-year planning horizon.

Tim Denoyer head

About the Author: Tim Denoyer, ACT Research

Tim Denoyer joined ACT Research in 2017, after spending fifteen years in equity research focused primarily on the transportation, machinery and automotive industries. In addition to his roles analyzing commercial vehicle demand and alternative powertrain development (i.e. electrification), Tim is the lead analyst in ACT’s transportation research effort and the primary author of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook. This report provides supply chain professionals with better visibility on the future of pricing and volume in trucking, the core of the $800 billion U.S. freight transportation industry, including truckload, less-than-truckload and intermodal/drayage.

This service leverages ACT’s expertise in the supply side economics of transportation and draws upon Tim’s background as an investment analyst. Tim was a co-founder of Wolfe Research, one of the leading equity research firms in the investment industry. While with Wolfe, Tim was recognized in Institutional Investor’s survey of investors as a Rising Star analyst in both the machinery and auto sectors. His investment experience also includes responsibility for covering the industrial sector of the equity markets, most prominently with leading hedge fund Balyasny Asset Management.

Disclaimer

The material contained herein is intended as general industry commentary. The Cass Freight Index, Cass Truckload Linehaul Index (“Indexes”), and other content are based upon information that we consider reliable, but Cass does not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, reliability, continued availability or completeness of any information or underlying assumptions, and Cass shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions. Any data on past performance contained in the Indexes is no guarantee as to future performance. The Indexes and other content are not intended to predict actual results, and no assurances are given with respect thereto. Cass makes no warranty, express or implied. Opinions expressed herein as to the Indexes are those of Stifel and may differ from those of Cass Information Systems Inc. All opinions and estimates are given as of the date hereof and are subject to change.

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