After spiking the week before, the number of available loads on the spot truckload freight market edged down 9% during the week ending December 10, 2016, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
Spot freight volume remains higher than usual given the time of year, although load-to-truck ratios dipped across all three equipment types:
•Reefer L/T—6.1 (down 25%)
•Van L/T—3.4 (down 28% from a 30-month high)
•Flatbed L/T—17.7 (down 6%)
With volumes down and the number of posted trucks up 15% the week ending December 10, national average van and refrigerated rates declined slightly:
•Reefers—$1.95/mile, down 1 cent
•Vans—$1.73/mile, down 1 cent after an 8-cent gain the previous week
•Flatbeds—$1.92/mile, up 1 cent
Spot TL rates include a fuel surcharge, which increased 1 cent on average after the national average price of on-highway diesel climbed another cent to $2.49/gallon.
The number of reefer load posts fell 15% and truck posts increased 15% the week ending December 10. Idaho is at the epicenter of reefer activity with 80 million pounds of potatoes shipping out every week. The load-to-truck ratio in Twin Falls hit 18.5 on December 9; by comparison, the national average is 6.1 reefer loads per truck.
As for vans, the number of load posts fell 17% and truck posts rose 15% week over week. At $2.10/mile, Los Angeles CA is the biggest van market where outbound rates are lower now than a month ago. Other key van lanes showed solid outbound rates for the season despite declines in some cases:
•Denver CO, $1.38/mile, up 10 cents
•Chicago IL, $2.09/mile, down 2 cents
•Charlotte NC, $1.98/mile, down 4 cents
•Buffalo NY, $2.18/mile, up 4 cents
•Houston TX, $1.51/mile, up 1 cent
The number of flatbed load posts advanced 7.5% and truck posts gained 14% compared with the previous week. Several outbound markets are showing signs of recovery in December:
•Phoenix AZ, $1.83/mile, down 1 cent the week ending December 10 but up over the past month
•Rock Island IL, $2.37/mile, up 2 cents
•Cleveland OH, $2.21/mile, up 5 cents
•Savannah GA, $2.36/mile, up 9 cents
•Harrisburg PA, $3.17/mile, up 13 cents
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. All reported rates include fuel surcharges.
For the latest spot market load availability and rate information, go to www.dat.com/trendlines.
