Freight Costs Continue To Increase For Canadian Shippers Canadian General Freight Index Rises .4% In August

Results published today by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI) indicate that the cost of ground transportation for Canadian Shippers increased .4% in August 2011 when compared to July.

The Base Rate Index, which excludes the impact of Fuel Surcharges assessed by carriers, has increased for 6 consecutive months including a .6% increase in August. However, Base Rates remain 4.8% below the same period a year ago.

Average Fuel Surcharges assessed by carriers increased from 19.0% of Base Rates in July to 20.1% in August.

“The trend toward marginal increases in Base Rates we observed last month has continued,” says an industry expert, “although it is interesting to note that they are still significantly below prior year levels”.

Index 1 – Total Freight Costs

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This is a summary showing Total Freight Costs for over the road shipments starting in January 2008.
This chart depicts only General Freight shipments and includes all accessorial and fuel surcharges.
It excludes specialty freight services, rail, air, ocean and courier shipments. Freight services paid in US currency have been translated into Canadian dollars based on the exchange rate applicable on the shipment date.

Index 2 – Base Freight Costs

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This chart shows the change in Base Freight Costs since January 2008 for Canadian shippers. The data presented is the same as the General Freight Index above, except that all costs associated with separately identified Fuel Surcharges and Other Accessorial charges has been removed from the analysis.

Index 3 – Fuel Surcharge

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This chart shows the changing Fuel Surcharge rates paid by Canadian Shippers. The Fuel Surcharge data shown is expressed as a percentage of the overall Base Freight Cost paid by shippers in the study sample.