The number of loads on the DAT network of load boards fell 13% during the week ending Sept. 10 while the number of trucks dropped 15%, but those are actually strong results considering the Labor Day holiday, the DAT Solutions report noted.
A 20% decline in all load board activity during a four-day, holiday-shortened workweek could be expected; instead, demand and load-to-truck ratios were solid for all three equipment types:
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Van L/T ratio: 3.2, essentially unchanged from last week when the ratio was the highest since early July
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Reefer L/T ratio: 6.0. Down 9% but a very strong number for this time of year
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Flatbed L/T ratio: 12.2. Up 21%, a big increase even though rates fell by a couple of cents
The national average van rate held at $1.66/mile, the reefer rate added 2 cents to $1.93/mile, and the flatbed rate lost 3 cents, falling to $1.87/mile.
VAN TRENDS
Van load posts and truck posts both declined 17%, indicating relative strength for a four-day week.
Texas volumes improved and rates were up on most major outbound lanes from Dallas ($1.55/mile as an average, up 3 cents). Other top van markets by region:
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West: Los Angeles, $2.03/mile, down 2 cents
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Midwest: Chicago, $1.99/mile, down 2 cents
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Southeast: Charlotte, $1.92/mile, down 3 cents
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Northeast: Allentown, Pa., $2.01/mile, down 3 cents
REEFER TRENDS
Reefer volumes stayed ahead of expectations during the Labor Day week. Load posts fell 17% and truck posts declined 9%.
Demand for reefers was strongest up north; Chicago, Elizabeth, N.J., and Grand Rapids, Mich., were the top 3 markets for load posts. Other major reefer lanes remained solid last week:
