The base rate index, which excludes the impact of accessorial charges assessed by carriers, increased by 2.6 percent when compared to January.

Average fuel surcharges assessed by carriers decreased this month. Fuel was 16.02 percent of base rates in February versus 17.22 percent in January.

"Total freight costs continue to rise driven by truckload activity in February, despite decreasing fuel costs," said Doug Payne, president and COO of Nulogx, a transportation management solutions provider and sponsor of the CGFI. "Once again, cross-border and domestic LTL total costs slid in February, but were out-weighed by the domestic and cross-border TL increases. Cross-border truckload base rates are 18.5 percent higher than a year ago, while LTL rates – both domestic and cross-border – are more than 10 percent below. Domestic truckload rates are very near the level of a year ago."

Source: CGFI