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August transportation prices decline at slowest pace in a year

Capacity growth slows, Logistics Managers’ Index shows

The rate of transportation capacity growth slows in August, according to the Logistics Managers’ Index. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Freight transportation markets inched closer to equilibrium in August, according to data compiled in the Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI).

The Tuesday report displayed a reading of 60.5 for transportation capacity during the month, which is still well into expansion territory but the slowest growth rate logged since April 2022. The subindex was 5.1 percentage points lower than in July.

The impact from less-than-truckload carrier Yellow’s exit was not quantified in the report. The carrier was operating 12,700 tractors at the end of last year.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion while one below 50 signals contraction.


Transportation utilization (50) increased 8.2 points in August and moved out of contraction territory for the first time since April. Transportation prices (42.9) continued to decline but at a slower pace. The pricing subindex improved 7.3 points from July to the highest reading since last September.

“Transportation markets are nowhere near a full recovery to the levels we saw from Summer 2020 to early 2022, but it is possible we are now seeing concrete steps moving out of the freight recession,” the report said.

Supply chain professionals were asked to predict where various components of the LMI would stand one year from now. The group returned a bullish reading of 65.3 for transportation prices.

Chart: (SONAR: OTRI.USA). A proxy for truck capacity, the Outbound Tender Reject Index, shows the number of loads being rejected by carriers. Carriers are currently rejecting 4% of all loads tendered under contract. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here.
Chart: (SONAR: NTIL.USA). The National Truckload Index (linehaul only – NTIL) is based on an average of booked spot dry van loads from 250,000 lanes. The NTIL is a seven-day moving average of linehaul spot rates excluding fuel. Spot rates are currently 16% lower y/y.

Inventory levels (47.9) contracted again but at a rate that was 6 points slower than in July. The slowing of inventory drawdowns pushed inventory costs (69.1) and warehousing prices (63.4) higher.


Aggregate logistics costs, which include inventory costs and warehouse and transportation prices, increased 18.6 points in the month to 175.3 (150 is a neutral level for the index). This was the highest level since February but well below the March 2022 peak of 271.3.

The report noted that many retailers and wholesalers have redeployed just-in-time inventory strategies following the pandemic as demand for goods has cooled. These firms have been able to lower supply chain costs by carrying reduced merchandise levels. However, the forward-looking expectation from the group is for inventories to expand again within the next year. The one-year estimate for the inventory levels subindex was 54.3.

The report showed warehouse utilization (57.8) remained in expansion territory even as new facilities continue to come on line. This was the highest level for the subindex since March, when many firms were still working off excess inventories from the fourth quarter.

Warehouse capacity (60.8) expanded for a seventh straight month. The subindex broke 60 for the first time in June and has stayed above that level since.

The overall LMI (51.2) expanded for the first time in four months.

The LMI is a collaboration among Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Florida Atlantic, Rutgers University and the University of Nevada, Reno, conducted in conjunction with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden


3 Comments

  1. Inventory Control NZ

    The data and insights provided in this article on transportation price trends are enlightening. Understanding how transportation prices fluctuate can have a significant impact on businesses’ budgeting and supply chain decisions. It’s interesting to note the slower decline in transportation prices over the past year. I’m sure many logistics professionals will find this information helpful for their planning and decision-making. hscmsolutions.com will be a valuable source for you.

  2. Bigdee

    Well Stephen we know why insurance is high. When low risk insurance claims go up or they have to cancel whole states to protect the company. Even though as a whole I think big accidents have actually went up that’s not necessarily the reason they went up this is not regulated like in some states home owners insurance is so the rates will continue to go up as these national disasters happen more often they will find a way to make up the difference. And the double wamy is fuel prices are going to continue to as we go more green cut production which means the company has to make more per unit to stay in business. OH yeah it’s like a nightmare it gets worse and worse 😆

  3. Stephen webster

    That is because so many small fleet in ont Canada and California can no longer afford insurance. We need min and max freight rates at twice the minimum freight rates
    This is looking like 2008 all over Canada
    A. nonprofit Huron Easyshare is getting over 10 calls a week from truck drivers that need help in Ont
    We need a plan by the industry to solve this problem.

Comments are closed.

Todd Maiden

Based in Richmond, VA, Todd is the finance editor at FreightWaves. Prior to joining FreightWaves, he covered the TLs, LTLs, railroads and brokers for RBC Capital Markets and BB&T Capital Markets. Todd began his career in banking and finance before moving over to transportation equity research where he provided stock recommendations for publicly traded transportation companies.