In June 2011, TransCore's spot freight index marked the sixth consecutive month with the highest same-month spot market freight availability. June also recorded the second-highest volume of any single month in the 15-year history of the Index.

The index was up 15 percent in June compared to May, and 37 percent compared to June of last year. The highest-ever load volume was recorded in March of this year.

Spot market rates also increased in June for all equipment types. The national average rate rose 4.5 percent for dry vans compared to May and 3.8 percent compared to June 2010. Refrigerated ("reefer") vans were up 5.6 percent month-on-month and 4.9 percent year-on-year, while flatbeds rates increased 0.6 percent month-on-month and 7.4 percent year-on-year. Spot market rates are paid by brokers and 3PLs to the carrier. The rates referenced above do not include fuel surcharges.

Looking ahead to August, TransCore says, many states are expected to offer unusually high freight volume, especially for outbound loads. Top choices include: Georgia, Indiana, California, Alabama and Arkansas.

Intermediaries and carriers across North America list more than 60 million loads and trucks per year across a variety of services feeding TransCore's DAT Network, making TransCore's Freight Index representative of the ups and downs in North American spot market freight movement.