TransCore's North American Freight index marked a record high for the month of January, up 5% compared to January 2011. Month-over-month, January's spot market freight volume slipped 8% compared to December.


The month-over-month seasonal decline is consistent with historic trends but less than the prior ten-year average decline of 145.

Truckload freight rates increased 7.3% on the spot market for dry vans and 4.5% for flatbeds, compared to January 2011, while declining 0.7 percent for refrigerated vans. The year-over-year rate increase in January continues the trend seen throughout 2011, when spot market rates rose 7.4% overall compared to 2010.

Rates followed seasonal patterns for January, which is typically a slow month for trucking freight volume and rates. For dry vans, the predominant equipment type, rates slipped 1.5%compared to December. Flatbed rates declined 2.4% and reefer rates slipped 6.5%month-over-month. These rates are derived from TransCore's Truckload Rate Index and do not include fuel surcharges. Spot market rates are paid by brokers and 3PLs to the carrier.

TransCore's monthly North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the company's network of