While the number of spot market loads on the DAT network of load boards fell last week along with truck posts, rates changed little.
The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index continued the acceleration that began in 2017 by posting a record 8.2% year-over-year increase, with the measure hitting a reading of 134.8.
Old Dominion Freight Line has announced a general rate increase of 4.9% that will apply to rates established under the existing IDFL 59, 670, and 550 tariffs, effective June 4.
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.