Graphic: DAT

Graphic: DAT

The availability of spot truckload freight dipped 1.8% while the number of trucks posted fell 2.4% during the week ending Oct. 28, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.

National average spot van and reefer rates declined for the third week in a row while the flatbed rate held steady after nearly two months of steady gains. Rates remain elevated for this time of year for all three equipment types:

  • Van: $2.03 per mile, down 1 cent from last week
  • Flatbed: $2.34 per mile, unchanged from week before
  • Reefer: $2.36 per mile, down 1 cent from last week

Spot truckload rates may pick up before Thanksgiving, as retail sales are projected to grow by 6% this holiday season and demand for capacity is solid, according to the freight matching provider.

Volumes for the top van markets rebounded 5% last week as shippers moved freight out the door before month’s end. Nationally, van load posts increased 1% and truck posts declined 3%, which caused the van load-to-truck ratio to increase from 5.4 to 5.9 loads per truck. In line with seasonal expectations during October, van load-to-truck ratios have declined since hitting a peak of 7.0 loads per truck during the final week of September.

Several key van lanes showed solid rates, including Dallas-Houston, $2.62 per mile, up 8 cents from last week, and Atlanta-Lakeland, Florida, $3.02 per mile, up 4 cents from the week before.

Reefer load posts held steady and truck posts declined 2%, causing the load-to-truck ratio to increase 1% to 9.7 loads per truck. The reefer load-to-truck ratio has fallen after hitting the highest average ratio in years in late September before turning upward again last week.

Flatbed load posts declined 6% and truck posts declined 2%, which caused the load-to-truck ratio to slip to 35.9 loads per truck, still a high ratio. After hitting the highest load-to-truck ratio in years during the last week of September, 50.2 loads per truck, the flatbed ratio has generally eased off in October.

About the author
Evan Lockridge

Evan Lockridge

Former Business Contributing Editor

Trucking journalist since 1990, in the news business since early ‘80s.

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