Ноябрьские тенденции грузоперевозок: Индекс Cass TL Linehaul растет, несмотря на проблемы с отправкой грузов

November Freight Volumes and Spending: A Mixed Picture

The freight transportation landscape in November saw shipment volumes dip again, yet increasing freight rates helped keep the total freight expenditure close to last year’s figures. According to data compiled from Cass Information Systems, although shipment counts declined, there was an upward trend in overall freight spending driven by higher pricing.

Shipments Dip While Freight Spend Holds Steady

Сайт Cass multimodal shipments index recorded a modest rise of 0.7% between October and November, and when seasonally adjusted, the increase was a more notable 2.7%. However, the year-over-year comparison paints a different story, with shipments down 7.6%, and even more so at 8.2% when compared over two years. Despite these declines, November marked the smallest two-year stacked drop in the last four months, hinting at a possible easing of shipment contraction.

Looking ahead, projections indicate that December’s volumes will fall another 4% year-over-year, resulting in a full-year 2025 decrease of 6% in freight shipments compared to the previous year.

The Expenditure Side: Rates Cushion the Blow

The Cass freight expenditures index, which tracks total freight spend including fuel costs, showed a slight sequential drop of 0.2% but increased 2.1% after seasonal adjustment. On a yearly basis, it remained fairly stable, only down 1.2%. This relative steadiness is attributed to higher freight rates that have offset volume softness.

Parsing the data reveals that, although volumes declined, rates themselves likely increased by about 7% compared to last November. That said, shifts in freight mix—from less-than-truckload (LTL) to truckload (TL) shipments—are being carefully analyzed before releasing detailed rate insights.

Truckload Linehaul Rate Trends and Market Dynamics

A spotlight on the TL Linehaul Index—which isolates truckload freight rates excluding fuel and extra surcharges—shows consistent growth with gains over the past three months. November alone saw a slight rise of 0.1%, following increases of 1.7% in September and 1.1% in October. Impressively, the index has logged year-over-year gains every month throughout 2025, reaching 2.2% in November.

Seasonal impacts and market dynamics have played their part here. Better-than-expected holiday spending and weather-related capacity constraints have slightly shifted leverage toward trucking fleets in December.

Weather and Regulation Factor Into Capacity Constraints

This past peak season faced challenges from three significant winter storms, typically aligned with the La Niña weather pattern, which severely tightened available spot capacity and propelled spot rate hikes. At the same time, various regulations targeting the truck driver pool—including stricter English proficiency requirements, limits on non-domiciled commercial licenses, and enforcement of electronic logging devices (ELD)—have contributed to a tighter spot market.

Сайт SONAR Truckload Rejection Index supports this narrative by signaling rising carrier tender rejections, reflecting scarce truck capacity and a competitive freight environment.

Persistent Challenges in Freight Volumes

While rates have benefited carriers, volume struggles linger. Softness remains particularly evident in sectors like manufacturing and housing, crucial drivers of freight demand. Less-than-truckload carriers offered mini improvements in tonnage during November but the overall trend points to continued shipment contraction.

This ebb and flow in volume has significant reverberations across the logistics chain. For example, logistics providers and shippers alike must balance rate rises with fluctuating freight volumes, potentially recalibrating operational strategies to stay efficient.

Impact of Tariffs and Economic Factors

The report highlights that after a temporary volume uptick in Q3 ahead of import tariff deadlines, shipments have softened again during Q4 as inventories stocked in anticipation of tariffs are drawn down. While some early holiday consumer spending signals may indicate pent-up demand, tariffs are expected to raise costs further, making affordability a larger concern for 2026.

Looking at the Bigger Picture: What This Means for Logistics

• Higher freight rates help offset volume declines, but shippers face increased costs that can reshape supply chain decisions.
• Weather-related disruptions and tighter driver regulations accentuate capacity challenges, leading to more volatile spot markets.
• Persistently soft shipment volumes point to cautious economic activity, pressing logistics providers to remain agile.
• Shifts from LTL to TL shipments may affect cost structures and equipment utilization.

These conditions underscore the importance of highly adaptive logistics strategies that can navigate fluctuating freight demand, regulatory landscapes, and weather impacts.

Summary of November’s Freight Trends

Making Informed Decisions in an Evolving Freight Market

The detailed data and indexes give useful insights, but nothing beats experiencing the market firsthand. Even the clearest reviews and the frankest feedback can’t fully prepare logistics professionals or shippers for actual freight conditions. Platforms like GetTransport.com step into this space by enabling users to book affordable, reliable cargo transportation worldwide, spanning everything from office and home moves to heavy cargo like furniture, vehicles, and oversized shipments. This hands-on approach empowers customers to navigate freight options with minimal risk and cost.

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Looking Forward: The November Freight Trends and Logistics Outlook

On a global scale, the 2025 shipment declines coupled with rising rates reflect broader market shifts that logistics players must monitor. While the impact might seem moderate worldwide, understanding these changes is crucial for staying competitive and meeting evolving customer demands. At GetTransport.com, keeping pace with such developments is part of the commitment to offer users efficient, cost-effective, and seamless freight solutions, whether for everyday cargo haulage or complex relocation needs. Start planning your next delivery and secure your cargo with GetTransport.com.

Заключение

In summary, the latest data from Cass highlights a freight market grappling with lower volumes but buoyed by firm freight rates and spot market dynamics influenced by weather and regulation. Shipment contraction, particularly in sectors like manufacturing and housing, continues to test the logistics industry’s adaptability. Meanwhile, capacity constraints and tariff-driven pricing point towards a nuanced landscape where shippers and carriers must weigh cost, timing, and service. GetTransport.com stands ready to streamline these challenges with accessible, global cargo transportation services that support a diverse range of shipping needs. Embracing such platforms can enhance logistics efficiency, ensuring smooth, reliable freight, shipment, and distribution operations for businesses and individuals alike.