According to the April edition of the Cass Freight Index from Cass Information Systems, Inc., both North American shipment volume and overall freight expenditures slumped in April after a strong March. Freight shipment volume dropped 3.5 percent from March to April. The year-over-year, shipment volume was down 1.3 percent, and 1.2 percent below 2011 figures.
April freight expenditures were down 1.6 percent from March, and 
below last year’s level for the same period by 0.5 percent. Year-to-date dollars spent is 0.8 percent higher than end of year 2012, but only because of March’s strong increase. “Despite the ever-tightening truck capacity worsening truck driver shortage, truckload and LTL rates overall have remained as flat as the economy,” stated Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst of Delcan Corp.
Source: Cass Freight Index: April 2013 – The Cass Freight Informations Systems
