Spot van load posts slipped 1% while truck posts fell 7% last week; tighter capacity caused the van load-to-truck ratio to increase 9% to 7.8 loads per truck.
Rates in most of the major van markets were down last week, including Atlanta ($2.22/mile, down 3 cents), Memphis ($2.37/mile, down 3 cents), Los Angeles ($2.66/mile, down 10 cents), and Chicago ($2.63/mile, down 8 cents). The biggest lane-rate increase was from Columbus to Buffalo, which was up 31 cents to an average of $3.37/mile. That’s likely retail freight moving between two distribution hubs.
The national average spot refrigerated rate fell 4 cents to $2.36/mile. Load posts increased 3% and truck posts decreased 7% compared to the previous week, propelling the load-to-truck ratio to rise 12% to 11.0 loads per truck.
A decline in long-haul traffic loosened truckload capacity on the top 75 reefer lanes and pushed average outbound rates lower in most places, although prices remain elevated for December. Green Bay ($3.49/mile, down 15 cents), Chicago ($3.03/mile, down 4 cents), Philadelphia ($2.84/mile, 5 cents lower), Elizabeth, N.J. ($1.99/mile, down 6 cents), and Los Angeles ($2.94/mile, down 4 cents) are prime examples.
The national average flatbed rate increased 1 cent for the third week in a row, moving to $2.32/mile. Flatbed prices are high for this time of year, and last week's rate is just 2 cents lower than the peak in October.
The price of on-highway diesel fuel fell a penny to $2.90/gallon. Prices remain nearly 50 cents higher than this time last year. Spot truckload freight rates include a fuel surcharge portion.
Rates are derived from DAT RateView, which provides real-time reports on prevailing spot market and contract rates, as well as historical rate and capacity trends. For the latest spot market load availability and rate information, visit dat.com/industry-trends/trendlines and join the conversation on Twitter with @LoadBoards.
