TRAFFIX launched the NAX Index to offer shippers a standardized tool for evaluating freight corridors between the United States and Canada, as well as the United States and Mexico.
This monthly report provides vital market data, highlighting a current environment defined by high carrier expenses, a significant shortage of available trucks, and growing regulatory hurdles at both borders.
The NAX Index combines approximately 11 economic, freight, and trade indicators into one score for each corridor, published on a consistent monthly cadence.
"We built the NAX Index because our clients kept asking the same question: is cross-border shipping getting easier or harder?" says Alex Fuller, senior director, revenue management and solutions at TRAFFIX. "Now there is a single number they can track month over month, and a set of recommendations tied directly to where the cross-border trucking market stands."
Key takeaways:
· The data points to truck availability as the primary pressure point, with fewer carriers accessible across both corridors while freight volumes have held relatively steady.
· Fuel prices and carrier rate increases have kept transportation costs elevated, and ongoing trade and tariff activity continues to add uncertainty to pricing and scheduling decisions, particularly on the northern border.
· Canada lanes are showing more tightness than Mexico in June, especially around truck availability and shipment planning.
