# Average price of diesel has become a solid barometer for freight activity, here is why - FreightWaves

> An analysis argues that the average U.S. diesel price tracks freight demand, since transport providers are the largest diesel consumers. It notes that the Cass Freight Index showed shipment declines in 2015-2016 alongside a fall in diesel prices, with the main driver being oil supply rather than freight demand.

- Date: 2019-08-11 · published 2019-08-11T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/57783-average-price-of-diesel-has-become-a-solid-barometer-for-freight-activity-here
- Commodities: [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Freight volume and diesel price signals help buyers gauge transport capacity and cost trends for feed deliveries, though crude price drivers can outweigh demand effects.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-20 | [Benchmark diesel price up as market takes a short breather - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/632-benchmark-diesel-price-up-as-market-takes-a-short-breather-freightwaves.md) | -0.2% | — |
| DIESEL | 2026-10-20 | [Diesel Prices: Up, Down, or Stuck? - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17230-diesel-prices-up-down-or-stuck-freightwaves.md) | -0.2% | — |
| DIESEL | 2021-02-18 | [Diesel fuel in short supply in Texas; prices on the rise - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48825-diesel-fuel-in-short-supply-in-texas-prices-on-the-rise-freightwaves.md) | +4.0% | +3.4% |
| DIESEL | 2019-08-30 | [Mixed information coming out of Florida on diesel fuel availablity - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57780-mixed-information-coming-out-of-florida-on-diesel-fuel-availablity-freightwaves.md) | +1.7% | +4.3% |
| DIESEL | 2021-05-10 | [Colonial Pipeline outage: What to watch for in diesel markets Monday - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/47275-colonial-pipeline-outage-what-to-watch-for-in-diesel-markets-monday-freightwaves.md) | +1.4% | +5.2% |

## Sources

- freightwaves.com: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/average-price-of-diesel-has-become-a-solid-barometer-for-freight-activity-here-is-why

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.