The amount of freight, along with rates, are both generally down on the spot market, according to one of the nation’s largest freight matching services.

DAT reports overall spot market loads available fell 1.5% September 22 through 28, compared to the previous seven days.

Load-to-truck ratios also declined in two of the major categories, with flatbeds falling 5.5% while reefers lost 0.9%. In contrast, the van load-to-truck ratio gained 4.6%.

Van rates lost 0.5% during the period, for an average of $1.86 per mile, despite load volume increasing 3.7%, while reefers declined 1.4%, to $2.15 per mile, even though there was steady load volume. Rates for flatbeds were the only gainer, picking up 1.9%, to $2.13 per mile, rebounding from a mid-September slump.

DAT says national average rates contradicted regional trends while key markets for reefers are trending up in the Midwest and Southeast.