The Cass Transportation Index Report for August 2026 shows freight shipments rose 2.1% year over year. That’s the first annual gain since January 2023, ending a 42-month downturn.
Freight spending jumped 18.7%, and truckload linehaul rates climbed 11.3% from a year ago.
Owner-operators can use these numbers to plan loads, costs, and truck purchases. Below, we break down each index, ACT Research’s outlook, and what it means for your business.
What Did the August 2026 Cass Report Show?
All three measures rose in August: shipments, spending, and truckload rates. Here are the headline numbers from the Cass August 2026 report.
| Index | August 2026 | Year over year | 2-year stacked | Month to month | Month to month (seasonally adjusted) |
| Cass Freight Index: Shipments | 1.038 | +2.1% | -7.4% | +5.6% | +5.0% |
| Cass Freight Index: Expenditures | 3.722 | +18.7% | +18.3% | +5.8% | +6.0% |
| Truckload Linehaul Index | 153.9 | +11.3% | +12.6% | +0.7% | Not reported |
Cass builds these indexes from the freight bills it pays on behalf of shippers. Our explainer on the Cass Transportation Index Report covers how each one is calculated.
Shipments Rose 2.1% Year Over Year
Shipments rose 2.1% year over year and 5.6% from July. On a seasonally adjusted basis, they rose 5.0%. That’s the first annual gain since January 2023. The 42-month slide was the longest downturn on record for this measure.
Don’t break out the confetti yet, though. Cass notes the August jump mostly reversed declines in June and July. ACT Research, which writes the report, is hesitant to call it a major improvement in freight demand.
The 2-year stacked figure is also still down 7.4%. If normal seasonal patterns hold, Cass expects shipments to be up about 1% year over year in September.
Volumes have climbed since spring. Our March 2026 Cass report recap showed shipments down roughly 4.5% year over year.
Freight Expenditures Jumped 18.7% Year Over Year
Freight expenditures rose 18.7% year over year in August, up from a 9.1% gain in July. This index tracks the total amount shippers spend on freight, including fuel.
Year over year, shipments rose only 2.1%. That means higher rates and fuel costs drove most of the 18.7% jump in spending.
The monthly picture looks different. Seasonally adjusted, spending rose 6.0% from July while shipments rose 5.0%, which implies rates rose about 1.0%.
Fuel is a big part of the yearly gain. The national average diesel price hit $6.382 a gallon on September 28, 2026 (EIA). That’s $2.628 more than a year earlier.
The expenditures index fell 19% in 2023, 11% in 2024, and another 0.5% in 2025.
Truckload Linehaul Rates Climbed 11.3% Year Over Year
The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index rose to 153.9 in August. That’s up 0.7% from July and 11.3% from August 2025.
This index measures truckload rates without fuel and accessorial charges. It covers both spot and contract rates across the for-hire market.
Spot rates have cooled with small monthly declines. Contract rates, which make up the much bigger share of the market, keep adjusting higher.
The index fell 10% in 2023 and 3.4% in 2024, then rose 1.8% in 2025. Cass says it’s on pace for a 7% gain in 2026 if rates hold where they are.
What ACT Research Expects Next for the Freight Market
ACT Research thinks the freight market has probably hit bottom. It expects modest growth from here, with some risks attached.
ACT points to three things supporting freight volumes:
- A growing economy: U.S. growth is strong, even with a soft job market.
- Inventory restocking: Ocean import volumes are rising, which usually leads to more truck freight.
- Tariff refunds: Refunds of IEEPA duties are giving shippers extra cash to rebuild inventory.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection now processes these refunds through a system called CAPE. ACT says the refunds helped push corporate profit margins to record highs in Q2.
Capacity Is Starting to Grow Again
Class 8 tractor sales rose above replacement levels in July and August. That lets the truck fleet grow for the first time after 18 months of shrinking.
New regulations and broker liability laws make it harder for new carriers to enter. ACT expects that to slow capacity growth.
In our experience, carriers with active authority and steady customers gain the most when fewer new trucks enter. Rate gains also tend to hold longer.
Risks to Watch
ACT lists oil prices, inflation, and interest rates as the biggest risks. Any of the three could slow consumer spending and freight demand.
What the August 2026 Cass Report Means for Owner-Operators and Small Fleets
The August report points to better rates and slightly more freight. High fuel costs can eat much of that gain, though. Here’s how we’d use the data.
Know Your Cost Per Mile
An 11% rate increase doesn’t help much if your costs rose faster. Diesel is up more than $2.60 a gallon from last year.
If your truck gets 6.5 miles per gallon, that’s about 40 cents more per mile in fuel alone.
Fuel moves your cost per mile for commercial trucking faster than anything else, so recheck it every month.
Also make sure your contracts include a fuel surcharge that tracks weekly diesel prices.
Push for Better Contract Rates
Contract rates are rising while spot rates cool. That makes now a good time to lock in steady lanes with direct shippers or brokers.
We’ve found that owner-operators with a few reliable contract lanes handle rate swings much better. That base comes from finding truck loads through more than one channel, like brokers and direct shippers.
Time Truck Purchases Carefully
Class 8 sales are back above replacement levels, so more fleets are buying trucks again. If you’re planning a purchase too, start early.
Climbing repair bills and more frequent downtime are two signs it’s time to replace fleet vehicles.
If you’re adding trucks rather than replacing one, small fleet loans let you finance more than one vehicle. Compare current commercial truck financing rates before you shop, so you know what payment your lanes can support.
Final Thoughts
The August 2026 Cass report shows freight shipments back in positive territory for the first time in 42 months. Linehaul rates are up 11.3%, and contract rates are still climbing.
High diesel prices and soft demand mean the recovery will likely be slow. Watch your cost per mile, lock in solid contract lanes, and plan equipment moves early.
If you need to replace a truck, cover a repair, or add to your fleet, start your credit application. We’ll get back to you within four hours.