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TD COWEN/AFS
FREIGHT INDEX

You’ve long used data for forecasting, budgeting and other strategic initiatives. But the volume of data in logistics is skyrocketing. In fact, one of the great modern business challenges is knowing what data matters and what to dismiss.

As a service to our clients, AFS collaborates with TD Cowen, a leading full-service investment bank, to bring you current and highly relevant data and insights on a quarterly basis that matter to your business.

Split-screen graphic featuring a big rig, a female shipping manager and market prices

Freight index key takeaways

  • Signals in the truckload market remain mixed, but there is still no clear sign of a recovery as rates continue to hover where they have been for the sixth straight quarter.

  • Heavy discounts for high-value, high-profit customers in the low-demand parcel market are blunting the effect of surcharge hikes as carriers compete for limited volumes. 

  • LTL pricing discipline and graduated pricing structures are keeping rates elevated, though price per shipment continues to fall.

Download the Full Q3:2024 TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index

What is the freight index?

The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index offers a unique and comprehensive view of both past market performance and the forecasted outlook for the immediate future quarter, for full truckload shipping, less-than-truckload shipping and parcel shipping, both express and ground.

Massive client historical data and current macro and microeconomic factors are carefully evaluated and selected, with their impact built into our predictive models.