How the Index is built.

The Index measures distance and speed: how long goods take from order to site, how far they travel and how often they are handled. Every figure is sourced or labelled as an estimate, and each edition is dated.

Lead time

Order to site, including production, inland transport, port time and final delivery. This edition uses Cabo Group figures. From next quarter, lead times come from dated shipment records.

Handling

The number of times goods are loaded, transferred or unloaded between the factory and the site.

Truck days

Planning estimates for a direct truckload from the Laredo crossing.

Freight and damage

Not yet published. From next quarter: cost per container and per truckload, and claims as a share of units shipped, from shipment records.

Corrections

If a figure is out of date, tell us through the contact on the About page and the page will show the correction and its date.