Cass Transportation Index Report May 2020

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.

SubscribeDownload Historical Data Points (xls)

"It Won’t Be Like This For Long"

  May 2020 Year-over-year change 2-year stacked change Month-to-month change
Cass Freight Index - Shipments 0.938 -23.6% -28.2% 1.6%
Cass Freight Index - Expenditures 2.243 -21.2% -22.0% -5.7%
Truckload Linehaul Index 130.60 -5.0% -4.5% 0.7%
Intermodal Price Index 121.00 -17.8% -14.7% -11.9%

 

Following what we believe was the trough in April, the Cass Freight Index® showed some—but only little—improvement in activity last month. The index for both shipments and expenditures remained at recessionary levels and came in >20% below May 2019. We were surprised not to see more of an up-tick; the re-opening schedule appears to have unfolded slower than we anticipated—and also because the freight data reported by some of the public companies (LTL carriers and rails specifically) showed a more significant sequential jump and better y/y improvements than Cass showed. June is normally the best month of the second quarter, and we’d expect a significant improvement in the Cass Index this month – even if still well below year-ago readings. We do not believe we will reach 2019 freight activity levels until 2021 (at the earliest) due to the significant rise in unemployment and other results of government intervention.

Cass Freight Index - Shipments

As a measure of economic activity, Cass Freight Index shipment volumes dropped 23.6% vs. year-ago levels (Chart 1), slightly worse than the -22.7% y/y change in April. But the absolute index reading nudged up 1.6% sequentially from 0.923 to 0.938. This shows, in our view, a continued severe weakness in the U.S. economy that is counter to the stock market surge we saw from mid-May until the pull-back this week (giving some justification to the pull-back).

Chart 1 – May’s shipments index was barely higher than April and still at very poor levelsChart 1

 

Source: Cass Information Systems, Inc and Stifel research

 

Chart 2 – Cass Freight Index - Shipment Volumes

To activate the data download feature, double click within the chart area and then select the download icon.

 

Click here to receive a monthly alert when new data is released.

We are now close to 80% through the second quarter of 2020, and we see volumes down double-digits for most carriers across most modes in the U.S., including truckload, LTL, intermodal, and rail. E-commerce (including parcel and big and bulky last mile) remains a hot area, as long-term trends in consumer buying patterns were accelerated in recent months. Customer exposure is also the biggest differentiator in terms of carrier to carrier performance.

Consumer confidence remained poor through May (Chart 3), as uncertainty about the recovery lingers. With all the talk about potential shapes the recovery could take, we feel comfortable removing a “V” from that discussion. The long-term effects of sky-high unemployment and 0% interest rates should be quite negative and sufficient this year to suppress any kind of sharp rebound in activity.

Chart 3 – Consumer confidence in May remained near April levels

Chart 3

Source: University of Michigan

On the international side, we saw May container volumes bounce back at the Port of Long Beach, from a 20% y/y drop in import volumes in April to a 7.6% y/y increase in May. But then the Port of Los Angeles reported volumes down 30% y/y in May (but vs. a strong May 2019). So, ocean freight, on balance, remains soft. International airfreight volumes have softened, but capacity remains constrained, and yields continue to stay well above normal levels. 

The weekly rail traffic data (Chart 4), excluding coal and grain shipments, typically tracks comparably to the Cass index, but it seemed to outperform last month—at least in y/y growth off the bottom (possibly due to a weaker truckload environment or freight mix issue). For June, we expect these numbers to get “less bad,” as businesses open more and consumers slowly start to leave their homes. However, shipment levels should remain below year-ago levels all year.

Chart 4 – U.S. rail traffic shows steady week-to-week improvement into June

Chart 4

Note – Week 23 carloads are originations through the week of 6/11/2020

Source: Association of American Railroads and Stifel research

Cass Freight Index - Expenditures

Back to the Cass Freight Index, freight expenditures also fell in May, down 21.2% y/y (Chart 5)—the worst reading since the global financial crisis and worse than April. It fell 5.7% sequentially, but revenue per shipment rose 3.1% y/y. Like April, we did not expect expenditures to outpace volumes, particularly with the intermodal and truckload linehaul indexes (which measuring prices) dropping and fuel declining y/y (Chart  7). With shipments down 23.6%, and expenditures down less (21.2%), and knowing that prices were down y/y, you may be asking how overall freight spend could be down less than volumes, if rates were lower. Our view remains that it has been a mix issue in that the freight that has been moving has a higher revenue per shipment, due to longer average length of haul (which has a negative impact on TL yield) and/or other characteristics. And those customers who remained opened for business had a higher freight cost per shipment than those who were closed. (Note that the intermodal and truckload linehaul indexes look at per-mile costs.) We believe expenditures on an apples-to-apples basis were down more than volume, and lower fuel surcharges are offering shippers at least some near-term relief with respect to their freight budgets.

Chart 5 – Expenditures weakened further – but still not as bad as 2009

chart 5

Source: Cass Information Systems, Inc. and Stifel research

Chart 6 – Cass Freight Index - Expenditure Volumes

To activate the data download feature, double click within the chart area and then select the download icon.

 

Chart 7 – While fuel prices appear to have bottomed, they are well below year-ago levels

chart 7

 

Source: Energy Information Administration

Truckload Linehaul Index

The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index® (Chart 8), measuring per-mile linehaul rates, takes a look at the largest (and most fragmented) market in the domestic transportation landscape. This index declined 5.0% in May after a 7.0% y/y drop in April (the worst comp of the last 15 years), so we believe TL rates have bottomed. 

Of course, it is the supply/demand balance that determines truckload rates, and there’s really nowhere to hide when volumes drop off a cliff. But truck volumes sequentially continue to improve, so from here we are watching pricing to see how quickly the demand recovery catches up to the falling industry supply of trucks and drivers. Tractor orders were already expected to be much lower this year than last in January, and as a result of the freight collapse recently, we expect builds and orders to fall even more.

Chart 8 – Truckload Linehaul Index bounces off bottom, but pricing remains soft

 

chart 8

Source: Cass Information Systems, Inc. and Stifel research

Chart 9 – Cass Truckload Linehaul Index

To activate the data download feature, double click within the chart area and then select the download icon.

 

As we typically note, the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index (Chart 10) has a strong correlation to the quarterly yield metrics reported by the publicly traded TL carriers. May’s data is showing that TL yields will probably average ~5% decline y/y in 2Q20. We’ll have an even better idea next month exactly what carriers, as a group, are likely to report .

Chart 10 – Cass Truckload Linehaul Index indicates public carrier yields still soft in 2Q20

 

chart 10

Source: Cass Information Systems, public carrier data, and Stifel research

 

Note: All historical truckload and intermodal data was restated in November 2019, with an extremely high correlation to the previous data.

When we look at spot rates (Chart 11) posted in May (and into June), we have seen a similar bounce off the April bottom, but they’re not even back to year-end 2019 levels. Spot rates are currently tracking down 8% y/y in the dry van market. Reefer is holding slightly better, down 7% y/y, while flatbed is still off 13% right now vs. a year ago. We believe the spot market (as well as the contract market) has bottomed and that the rebound in rates, as discussed above, will depend on the strength of the recovery coupled with the pinch of industry supply from factors besides just truck production, such as rising insurance costs and limited driver supply. 

 

Chart 11 – All truckload segments have bottomed in pricing

chart 11

Source: DAT Solutions, through week ended 6/7/20

In summary, while the Cass Shipments Index likely bottomed for this cycle in April, May was not as strong as anticipated. June readings should be better and, like many other things right now, will depend on how quickly the economy re-opens and how quickly the very high unemployment levels can retreat.   

David Ross

About the Author: David G. Ross, CFA, Stifel

Based in Miami, FL, Dave Ross is managing director and group head of Stifel’s Global Transportation & Logistics Equity Research practice with a focus on the truckload, parcel, air cargo/truck leasing, LTL, and intermodal sectors. He speaks regularly at industry conferences and advises supply chain leaders and executives of public and private carriers, shippers, and 3PLs on operations and strategy.

His past awards include ranking #1 in stock picking multiple times in the Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street Analysts Survey and in Financial Times/StarMine America’s Top Analysts report.

Mr. Ross joined Stifel in 2005. Before joining the firm, he was an analyst with Legg Mason Capital Markets, worked briefly in the industry at RailWorks Corp., and began his career as an analyst in the global investment banking division of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.

Mr. Ross received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and is a CFA charterholder. In addition, he is an Advisor to PICKUP Now, Inc. and EmergeTech, LLC, and serves on the board of directors for the Carson Scholars Fund and the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

Disclaimer

The material contained herein is intended as general industry commentary. The Cass Freight Index, Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, and Cass Intermodal Price 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.

Receive Index updates straight to your inbox