DAT North American Freight Index Maintains Late-Season Strength
Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose another 0.4% in August, edging above July levels. Freight volume typically peaks on the spot market in June, but this year has extended through the entire summer.
Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose another 0.4% in August, edging above July levels. Freight volume typically peaks on the spot market in June, but this year has extended through the entire summer.
Month-over-month load availability increased for vans and refrigerated trailers, while flatbed load volume experienced a typical seasonal decline. Freight volume rose 3.1% for vans and 3.8% for reefers, but declined 5.1% for flatbeds.
Compared to August 2012, freight availability rose 13% overall. Van freight volume rose 10%, reefer loads increased 22% and flatbed freight added 14%.
Spot market rates remained stable for vans in August compared to July. In a typical seasonal pattern, rates declined 3% for reefers and 1.8% for flatbeds.
On a year-over-year basis, van rates rose 2.3% and reefer rates gained 1.9%, while flatbed rates declined 4.6% compared to the unusually high rates of August 2012.
More Drivers
Why Hiring Truck Drivers Is Getting Harder
Higher recruiting costs, a shrinking driver pool, and renewed pay competition are raising the stakes for fleets heading into 2027.
Read More →
Roehl Offers Truck Drivers $10,000 Retention Incentive
Payments begin after the first load and continue in mileage-based installments for eligible experienced drivers joining the fleet.
Read More →
Platform Science Adds Dispatch and Safety Tools
Four additions to PS Fleet help fleets monitor loads, manage driver coaching, share truck locations and adjust video system settings.
Read More →
When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Custom AI Agent Builder
Agent Studio lets fleets create AI tools for hours-of-service monitoring, reporting and driver support, including agents that communicate by phone.
Read More →
Trucker Path Expands Reserved Parking Network
Trucker Path has added close to 6,000 more truck parking spaces to its Trucker Path Reserved Parking Network with the addition of Safe Truck Parking.
Read More →
EEOC Sues Texas Trucking Company Over Driver Age Limits
The agency says Trancasa USA rejected applicants over 65 and applied tougher driving-record standards to those over 60.
Read More →
Nussbaum, Roehl Announce Second Driver Pay Increase This Year
This year has seen a swath of major truck driver pay increases as freight capacity has tightened.
Read More →
From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
Read More →
Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert
Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.
Read More →