With a steadily improving economy and sectors such as manufacturing and construction going strong, many trucking companies are finding they have more freight than they have trucks to haul – but nowhere is that more true than in the flatbed sector.
The spring shipping season may be late, but it's here, especially in produce-distribution markets, according to the spot freight information reported by the DAT network of load boards.
Spot truckload freight volume had the strongest April on record, despite slipping 6.8% lower, a common seasonal trend, according to newly released figures from the DAT North American Freight Index.
Although the April 1 start to “hard enforcement” of the electronic logging device mandate does not seem to have had a huge effect on trucking capacity (except perhaps in flatbeds), there are a number of other factors that are working to keep capacity tight and rates high, likely at least until late this year, according to FTR.
Fr8 Revolution has announced its new Price Lock feature in the Fr8Star.com marketplace that allows shippers to obtain a fair market rate and book freight for legal and permitted and open deck freight.
Spot truckload freight rates moved higher in all three categories over the past week, according to the freight matching services provider DAT Solutions, amid an increase in loads and a decline in truck capacity.
Spot market freight activity continued to build during the week ending April 28 as the number of loads on the DAT network of load boards increased but a hike in truck capacity helped keep a lid on rates.
A measure of quarterly freight shipment and spending activity showed big gains in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same time a year ago, reflecting a stronger economy.
Spot market truckload activity picked up during the week ending April 21 as the number of posted loads increased 3.1% and truck posts rose 4%, according to the freight matching service provider DAT Solutions.
Spot truckload rates moderated during the week ending April 14 as more trucks returned to the marketplace. The number of trucks posted to the DAT Solutions network of load boards jumped 11% compared to the previous week while the number of loads fell almost 1%.