Seasonal factors and broader market uncertainty provide context for month-over-month declines in overall, airport and life sciences freight
WILMINGTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / September 10, 2026 / 28Freight today released the August 2026 New England Critical Freight Index, showing a moderation in proprietary shipment activity following strong growth in June and relative stability in July.
Built from 28Freight’s proprietary transportation data, the index measures month-over-month changes across three key areas of expedited logistics: overall shipment activity, airport freight and life sciences transportation. Rather than reporting actual shipment volumes, the index converts changes in activity into standardized scores, providing a consistent measure of market momentum while protecting proprietary operational data.
The August 2026 New England Critical Freight Index found:
- August showed a broad-based pullback in critical freight activity following June’s rebound and July’s relative stability. June recorded gains of 9.9% in overall shipments, 21.7% in airport-related freight and 17.9% in life sciences shipments.
- Overall shipment activity decreased 5.7% from July, earning an Overall Freight Index score of -1.0.
- Airport freight activity decreased 10.8% month over month, resulting in an Airport Freight Index score of -1.5. Airport-related freight represented 20.9% of 28Freight shipment activity in August.
- Life sciences transportation decreased 5.7% from July, resulting in a Life Sciences Index score of -1.0. Life sciences shipments represented 18.1% of August activity.
- As an external benchmark, the latest available Massachusetts Port Authority data showed Boston Logan cargo weight increased 11.0% in July from June*, resulting in a Boston Logan Cargo Index score of +1.0. August Boston Logan cargo data was not yet available for this report.
The August results are consistent with a seasonal moderation following stronger early-summer activity. European summer vacations and the associated reduction in freight movement also contributed to the decline, particularly in airport-related transportation. In addition, the team noted that uncertainty surrounding interest rates, bond yields, tariffs and the labor market are influencing transportation demand and business decision-making.
“August’s results should be viewed in the context of the strong activity we saw in June and July,” said Richard Marks, CEO of 28Freight. “Seasonality, including European summer vacations, may be contributing to the moderation, while broader economic uncertainty remains part of the environment our customers are navigating. The value of the Index is that it gives us a consistent way to track these changes over time rather than drawing conclusions from a single month.”
Unlike many transportation reports that rely primarily on government statistics or annual market surveys, the New England Critical Freight Index is published monthly using a consistent methodology that tracks directional changes in shipment activity. The index is intended to complement broader industry reporting by providing timely insight into sectors where speed, reliability and specialized handling are critical.
Each monthly report includes the Overall Critical Freight Index, Airport Freight Index, Life Sciences Freight Index, Boston Logan cargo activity as an external benchmark, month-over-month percentage changes, historical trend analysis, and commentary on notable transportation market developments.
Future editions will continue expanding the historical trend data while maintaining a consistent methodology allowing supply chain professionals to compare month-over-month activity and identify longer-term patterns in the critical freight market.
The complete August 2026 New England Critical Freight Index is available at https://28freight.com/new-england-critical-freight-index/.
About 28Freight
28Freight is a specialized provider of expedited transportation and logistics solutions supporting life sciences organizations, medical device manufacturers, freight forwarders and other companies moving time-critical shipments throughout North America. Through its nationwide transportation network and proprietary technology platform, 28Freight delivers reliable, high-touch logistics solutions for shipments where time matters most.
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For Further Information, Contact
Amy Riemer
Media Relations
978-502-4895 (cell)
amy@riemercommunications.com
SOURCE: 28Freight
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