Freight's 42-Month Slump Ends, and Diesel Is Sending the Bill
The longest freight recession on record is over. Cass Information Systems reported on September 14 that its shipments index rose 2.1 percent year over year in August, the first annual increase since January 2023 and the end of a 42-month decline, the longest in the dataset's history. The timing is uncomfortable for shippers, because the recovery in volumes arrives at the same moment diesel is repricing the cost of moving every one of those shipments.
Key Takeaways Cass Freight Index shipments rose 2.1 percent year over year in August 2026, the first annual gain in 42 months. The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index hit 153.9 in August, up 11.3 percent year over year, the largest annual jump since Ju…
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