Spot truckload freight rates surged for the week ending July 8 as the number of posted loads decreased 34% and truck posts slipped 19%, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.

With Independence Day landing on a Tuesday, many people also took Monday off for a four-day weekend. Load posts, truck posts, and load-to-truck ratios were down for all three equipment types as a result of the shorter work week.

Nationally, the number of van load posts declined 32% and truck posts were down 20% last week. That caused the van load-to-truck ratio to fall 16% to 5.4 loads per truck.

The national average van rate rose 10 cents to $1.90 per mile. However, rates from major van markets slipped:

  • Los Angeles: $2.26 per mile, down 3 cents
  • Chicago: $2.11 per mile, down 1 cent
  • Dallas: $1.83 per mile, down 4 cents
  • Houston: $1.86 per mile, down 2 cents
  • Atlanta: $2.26 per mile, down 4 cents

Reefer load posts fell 36% after several weeks of ramp-up to the Fourth of July holiday. Truck posts were down just 9% by comparison, which pushed the national reefer load-to-truck ratio down 29% to 8.3 loads per truck.

The national average spot reefer rate increased 5 cents to $2.17 per mile.

Flatbed load posts fell 33% while truck posts dropped 29%.That caused the load-to-truck ratio to decline 7% to 36.3 loads per truck.

The national average rate for flatbeds was $2.21 per mile last week, up 5 cents from the week before and its highest level in two years.

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.

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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