Data center buildout is driving freight demand that the Cass index misses
kernelangus420 · reddit · 2026-09-08
- Core claim: Economist Jason Miller and analyst Ken Adamo argue AI infrastructure buildout is generating truckload volumes that headline metrics like the Cass Freight Index fail to capture.
- The mismatch: Cass shipments fell 4.5% YoY in July, yet industrial freight tied to data centers is tightening the market.
- Supporting signals: Air freight imports up 17% YoY (computers, GPUs, electrical goods), primary metals volumes up on steel/switchgear demand, and Caterpillar, Eaton, and Cummins all reporting higher volumes than last year.
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