Cass: Linehaul rates rose in August

   Linehaul rates rose by 1.5 percent in August compared to the same period last year, and total intermodal costs increased by 0.8 percent, according to Cass Information Systems.
   The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours of service rule changes have had no affect, as of yet, on the rates, Avondale Partners, which provides commentary on Cass’ results, said.
   “Although July and August are seasonally weak months and therefore not the best time to judge the effect, we continue to expect overall industry capacity to decline by much less than 1 percent as a result of these rules, at least until EOBRs are mandated and then implemented industry-wide,” it said.
   Cass predicts linehaul rates to remain relatively flat in the near term, but overall costs might fluctuate. – Jon Ross