Truckload and intermodal pricing shines in April, says Broughton Capital and Cass report

The prevalent theme of rate gains for both truckload and intermodal freight movements remained fully intact in April, according to data in the most recent editions of the of the Truckload Linehaul Index and Intermodal Index from Cass Information Systems and Broughton Capital. This pricing data is part of the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index and the Cass Intermodal Linehaul Index, which were both created in late 2011. The indices are based on actual freight invoices paid on behalf of Cass clients, which accounts for more than $23 billion annually and uses 2005 as its base month. According to Cass and Broughton Capital, the truckload index “isolates” the linehaul component of full truckload costs from other components such as fuel and accessorials, which, in turn, provides an accurate reflection of trends in baseline truckload prices. Truckload rates, which measure linehaul rates, headed up 8.2% on an annual basis in April to 134.8, which marks the highest percentage increase over the course of the economic recovery, as well as a new all-time high for the actual reading.  The 8.2% annual gain tops gains in recent months of November (up 6.3%), December (up 6.2%), January (up 6.3%), February (up 6.5%), and March (up 7.2%).