Photo: DAT Solutions
120519 spot rates.png

Holiday week pushes spot truckload rates higher

Dec. 5, 2019
With Thanksgiving occurring late in November, the holiday weekend coincided with end-of-month pressures.

With Thanksgiving occurring late in November, the holiday weekend coincided with end-of-month pressures. Spot truckload rates rose sharply on loads that were picked up during the week ending Dec. 1 as brokers tried to attract capacity during the short workweek, according to data issued by DAT Solutions, a freight marketplace and information provider. The number of loads moved declined and load-to-truck ratios fell for all three equipment types.

National average rates, November:

  • Van: $1.83 per mile, 3 cents higher than the October average
  • Reefer: $2.18 per mile, up 7 cents compared to October
  • Flatbed: $2.11 per mile, 6 cents lower than October

Van trends: Average rates were higher on 79 of DAT’s Top 100 van lanes by volume last week. Sixteen lanes held steady while only five lanes averaged lower prices. Several lanes with big average rate increased last week actually gained in both directions:

  • Portland, Ore., to Stockton, Calif., averaged $1.91 per mile, up 30 cents compared to the previous week. Stockton to Portland gained 6 cents to $2.53 per mile.
  • Philadelphia to Columbus, Ohio, averaged $1.56 a mile, up 11 cents, while the return rose 9 cents to $2.95 per mile. This lane is associated with retail freight moving to warehouses.
  • Charlotte to Memphis gained 11 cents to $1.59 a mile while the return averaged $2.17 per mile, up 13 cents. Memphis is a hub for truckload freight as well as parcel.

Reefer trends: Reefer load-posting activity started last week strong and tapered off toward Thanksgiving Day. Unlike van posts, reefer load posting activity increased on Friday as goods move through the cold chain to restock grocery stores and distribution centers for the holidays ahead.

Average outbound rates increased in most major reefer markets, but two lanes stood out compared to the previous week:

  • Tucson to Los Angeles, up 17 cents to $2.03 per mile, due to an influx of imported produce at the Nogales, Ariz., border crossing. The return trip increased 18 cents to an average of $3.27 per mile.
  • Chicago to Kansas City, up 21 cents to $2.66 per mile. The return trip added 12 cents to an average of $2.39 per mile.
About the Author

Fleet Owner Staff

Our Editorial Team

Kevin Jones, Editorial Director, Commercial Vehicle Group

Cristina Commendatore, Executive Editor

Scott Achelpohl, Managing Editor 

Josh Fisher, Senior Editor

Catharine Conway, Digital Editor

Eric Van Egeren, Art Director

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

What challenges are top of mind for fleet professionals in 2025? Get exclusive insights from the 2025 Fleet Trends Survey and discover where the industry is headed next.
The most successful fleets accomplish more than delivering freight. To accomplish this, fleets need a fuel that’s reliable, more economical and more sustainable. That fuel is ...
Are your KPIs driving real fleet improvement? Learn how to set smarter, data-driven benchmarks, track success like top-performing fleets, and apply proven strategies to optimize...
Learn how eets can enhance truck utilization and minimize safety incidents using business intelligence and AI. Delve into innovative practices, technology integration and real...