Cass Transportation Index Report November 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.

SubscribeDownload Historical Data Points (xls)

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward?

  November 2021 Year-over-year change 2-year stacked change Month-to-month change Month-to-month change (SA)
Cass Freight Index - Shipments 1.206 4.5% 7.3% 1.4% 2.6%
Cass Freight Index - Expenditures 4.275 43.9% 52.1% 8.0% 10.2%
Truckload Linehaul Index 149.5 9.6% 10.2% -0.9% -0.9%

 

Cass Freight Index - Shipments

The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index® was 4.5% higher than the year-ago level in November, accelerating from a 0.8% y/y increase in October.

On a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis, the shipments index rebounded 2.6% m/m in November, after a 2.9% m/m increase in October, now more than recovering from the weather-impacted September data.

Freight volumes remain capacity-constrained, as shown by declining rail volumes and the ongoing backlog of containerships outside of U.S. ports. Although little progress has been made on the ocean as of yet, the pickup in our shipments index shows progress as the freight industry works to de-bottleneck. One important example of this is recent easing in semiconductor shortages, as shown by improving automotive rail carloadings.

If you are interested in where North American freight volumes are headed, ACT Research forecasts our shipments index (as well as our Truckload Linehaul Index) in its monthly report. Their forecast for this month was +4.2%, closely in line with the actualized +4.5%.

 

Cass Freight Index Shipments November 2021

See the methodology for the Cass Freight Index.

 

Cass Freight Index - Expenditures

The expenditures component of the Cass Freight Index, which measures the total amount spent on freight, rose to a new record level of 4.275, up 44% y/y in November and 8.0% m/m.

  • On a seasonally adjusted basis, expenditures rose 10.2% m/m in November, mostly due to higher rates, and to a lesser degree from higher volumes.
  • On a two-year stacked basis, the Cass expenditures index was up 52% in October, mostly explained by higher rates.

The full-year increase in this index will be 37% in 2021 assuming normal seasonality in December, after a 7% decline in 2020 and no change in 2019.

Tougher comparisons in the coming months will naturally slow these y/y increases, but again, just using normal seasonality from here, the increase in 2022 will still be 18%-20% at this trend level.

 

Cass Freight Index Expenditures November 2021

 

Inferred Freight Rates

A simple calculation of the Cass Freight Index data (expenditures divided by shipments) produces a data set of inferred freight rates that explains the overall movement in cost per shipment.

  • The freight rates embedded in the two components of the Cass Freight Index were 38% higher y/y in November, accelerated from the 36% y/y increase in October, despite a tougher comparison.
  • The inferred rates rose 5.5% m/m on a seasonally adjusted basis in November in the fourth straight m/m increase.

Significant excess miles are continuing in the freight network due to myriad supply chain disruptions in the shortage economy of 2021. Chassis production has improved significantly in the past two months, but the chassis fleet remains far from what is needed to address rail network congestion, so imports continue onto truckload, particularly off the West Coast, considerably raising the length of haul as trucking continues to take share from a snarled rail network.

These excess miles are a significant part of the 38% y/y increase in inferred freight rates, because, as noted in the calculation above, these rates are on a per shipment basis, rather than a per mile basis. Higher fuel surcharges are part of the increases, as are modal mix, accessorial fees, and significantly longer lengths of haul due to intermodal service issues. These freight cost factors are not reflected in the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, which is strictly the linehaul rate only.

For full-year 2021, Cass inferred freight rates are trending up about 23% from 2020 and are heading into 2022 up even more than that on a y/y basis. The data set is diversified among all modes, with truckload representing more than half of the dollars, followed by LTL, rail, parcel, and so on.

 

Cass Freight Index Inferred Rates November 2021

 Download the data

Truckload Linehaul Index

The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index®, which measures changes in linehaul rates, fell 1.5 points in November to 149.5 from 150.9 in October, down 0.9% m/m and up just 9.6% y/y, slower than the 12.2% increase in October. With upward pressure from strong freight demand and ongoing capacity tightness, this index is projected to continue trending higher. This data series trends below the 22% increase in public Q3 truckload fleet rates due to longer-haul highway mix resulting from rail service issues. Accessorials are also part of the difference, as those are excluded from the linehaul index, but much smaller than the mix effects from length of haul (LOH).

As has been the case for at least the past six months, the longer-haul mix related to intermodal chassis shortages pushing more freight off the rails and into truckload markets, particularly from the West Coast to Midwest, is continuing to pressure these data. We estimate this reduced the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index significantly, and a mileage-neutral truckload rate is probably up about 20% y/y.

The story is the same: freight demand is clearly still strong and persistent supply constraints are keeping upward pressure on rates. The gradual easing of supply constraints for critical components of trucking capacity – drivers and equipment – will continue to be key to the longer-term outlook. We see this changing the trajectory of the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index over the next year, but not quite yet.

 

Cass Truckload Linehaul November 2021

See the methodology for the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.

 

Freight Expectations

The freight cycle has been on the upswing for about 18 months. Fundamentals remain positive, with a strong consumer balance sheet and significant additional need for restocking.

It’s worth reminding our readers that in-depth analyses are available in the ACT Research Freight Forecast report, which includes sections on “The Classic Cycle of the U.S. Truckload Sector” and “Why Freight Cycles are Shorter than Economic Ones,” as well as new analysis of the chassis fleet. This month’s Freight Forecast focuses on how Omicron is likely to impact freight markets from both near- and long-term perspectives. In short, the report predicts very different freight markets this time next year.

Green shoots suggesting an easing in the “everything shortage” are beginning to emerge, including lower air and ocean rates, better port productivity, reduced rail network congestion, improved driver hiring, and rising auto production rates.

Though the near-term direction of freight rates remains higher, cyclical forces like driver hiring and semiconductor wafer fab construction, which take time, are diligently progressing in the background and will dictate the trajectory of capacity, volume, and rate trends in 2022 and beyond.

 

Rail Volumes November 2021

 

 

Release date: We strive to release our indexes on the 12th of each month. When this falls on a Friday or weekend, our goal is to publish on the next business day.

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. Tim is a senior analyst leading ACT’s team transportation research effort, and the primary author of the ACT Freight Forecast, U.S. Rate and Volume Outlook. Research associate Carter Vieth, who joined ACT in early 2020 after graduating from Indiana University, also contributes to the report. 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.

Tim also plays roles in ACT Research’s core Class 4-8 commercial vehicle data analysis and forecasting, in powertrain development, such as electrification analysis, and in used truck valuation and forecasting. Tim has supported or led numerous project-based market studies on behalf of clients in his four years with ACT Research on topics ranging from upcoming emissions and environmental regulations to alternative powertrain cost analyses to e-commerce and last-mile logistics to autonomous freight market sizing.

ACT’s freight research service leverages ACT’s expertise in the supply side economics of transportation and draws upon Tim’s background as an investment analyst, beginning at Prudential and Bear Stearns. 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 experience also includes responsibility for covering the industrial sector of the global equity markets, including with leading investment management company 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.

Receive Index updates straight to your inbox