# Cass Index: US Truckload Rates 11.3 Percent Higher in August – Shipments Show Growth for First Time in 42 Months **Category:** Industry News | **Source:** Cass Information Systems – Cass Transportation Index Report August 2026 | **Published:** 2026-09-17 | **Updated:** 2026-09-26 **Tags:** Cass Freight Index, Truckload, Frachtraten, USA, Strassentransport, Spotmarkt, Kontraktraten, Dieselpreis, Frachtmarkt, Konjunktur, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Schienentransport, Digitalisierung > The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index was 11.3 percent higher than the prior year in August. Shipment volumes increased by 2.1 percent – the first year-over-year growth after 42 months of decline. --- The US land freight market is picking up. According to the Cass Transportation Index Report from September 14, 2026, the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index rose to 153.9 points in August. That is 11.3 percent higher than the same month of the previous year and 0.7 percent higher than July. According to FreightWaves, it is the 20th consecutive year-over-year increase and the strongest since June 2022. Even more remarkable is the volume side. The number of shipments in the Cass Freight Index in August was 2.1 percent above the prior year – the first year-over-year increase since January 2023. This ends a 42-month downturn on this metric, the longest in Cass's data series according to the company. Compared to July, shipments increased by 5.6 percent, or 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, compared to two years ago, they remain 7.4 percent lower. Freight spending, which is volume multiplied by price, rose 18.7 percent year-over-year and 5.8 percent compared to July. Fuel contributed to this as well: according to FreightWaves, diesel prices in August were 46 percent above the prior year and 10 percent above the previous month. The linehaul index represents the entire commercial truckload market, combining spot and contract rates. According to Tim Denoyer of ACT Research, who authored the Cass report, spot rates are declining slightly, but the significantly larger contract market is adjusting upward. New regulations and liability rules for freight brokers have raised barriers to market entry and limited capacity expansion. At the same time, Class 8 truck tractor sales in July and August exceeded replacement demand; the fleet can thus grow for the first time after 18 months of contraction. Cass is cautiously optimistic for the coming months. With rising ocean freight volumes and the beginning of IEEPA tariff refunds, inventory building is gaining momentum. "The bottom has likely been reached. While it will probably remain moderate, freight growth should continue," Denoyer writes. However, risks remain high according to the report, particularly due to oil prices, inflation, and interest rates. For context: Cass processes approximately $37 billion in freight invoices annually. Truckload shipments account for more than half of the tracked shipments, less-than-truckload (LTL) approximately one quarter. The index measures domestic transport in North America. --- Anyone supplying goods to the USA or having them distributed there must expect higher truckload costs for pre- and on-carriage. Linehaul rates are significantly above the previous year, and diesel prices are driving fuel surcharges even higher. Existing contracts with US partners should be reviewed for price adjustment and diesel clauses. When submitting new quotes, it's worthwhile to clearly regulate validity period and surcharges. If demand continues to rise while capacity grows only slowly, cargo space will become scarcer during peak times – early booking and reliable planning data vis-à-vis partners help. In short: The US truckload market has left the bottom after 42 months in terms of volumes – rates and surcharges are rising while capacity is growing only slowly. --- Cass Truckload Linehaul Index August 2026: 153.9 points, +11.3 percent year-over-year, +0.7 percent versus July. According to FreightWaves, the 20th consecutive year-over-year increase and the strongest since June 2022. Linehaul Index development: 2023 −10 percent, 2024 −3.4 percent, 2025 +1.8 percent. The index covers the entire commercial truckload market, spot and contract rates. Shipments (Cass Freight Index): +2.1 percent year-over-year, +5.6 percent versus July, seasonally adjusted +5.0 percent; two-year comparison −7.4 percent. First year-over-year increase since January 2023; end of a 42-month downturn, according to Cass the longest in this data series. Freight spending: +18.7 percent year-over-year, +5.8 percent versus July, seasonally adjusted +6.0 percent. Diesel price according to FreightWaves: +46 percent year-over-year, +10 percent versus prior month. Class 8 tractor sales in July and August exceeded replacement demand. Cass processes approximately $37 billion in freight invoices annually; truckload represents over 50 percent of shipments, LTL approximately 25 percent. The Cass Freight Index measures commercial domestic transportation in North America, all modes of transport. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [United States of America](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/us) ### Glossary - [Freight rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-rate) - [Full Truckload](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/full-truckload-3) - [Full Truckload (FTL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/full-truckload-ftl) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Spot market](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/spot-market) - [Road transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/road-transport) - [piece goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/piece-goods) - [Fuel surcharge](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/fuel-surcharge) - [transport market](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transport-market) - [IEEPA](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/ieepa) - [Spot Rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/spot-rate) - [Contract Rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/contract-rate) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/cass-index-us-truckload-raten-im-august-113-prozent-hoeher-sendungen-erstmals-seit-42-monaten-im-plus-20260915184226](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/cass-index-us-truckload-raten-im-august-113-prozent-hoeher-sendungen-erstmals-seit-42-monaten-im-plus-20260915184226)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/cass-index-us-truckload-raten-im-august-113-prozent-hoeher-sendungen-erstmals-seit-42-monaten-im-plus-20260915184226](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/cass-index-us-truckload-raten-im-august-113-prozent-hoeher-sendungen-erstmals-seit-42-monaten-im-plus-20260915184226)*