BEAVERTON, Ore. — Demand for trucks on the spot market typically rise at the end of a month as shippers clear their docks, according to DAT.
The total number of loads posted on DAT One increased by 4% in the final week of January compared to the previous week. The total number of trucks posted rose almost 6%, and weekly average rates declined. All rates are weekly average linehaul spot rates (net fuel).
Dry Vans
▲ Van loads: 1,010,734, up 4.5% week over week
▲ Van equipment: 168,858, up 6.2%
▼ Linehaul rate: $1.72 net fuel, down 4 cents
Reefers
▼ Reefer loads: 419,025, down 11.8% week over week
▲ Reefer equipment: 49,109, up 5.5%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.04 net fuel, down 7 cents
Flatbeds
▲ Flatbed loads: 682,742, up 16.9% week over week
▲ Flatbed equipment: 29,564, up 5.0%
▼ Linehaul rate: $2.00 net fuel, down 1 cents
Market Notes from Dean Croke, DAT iQ Industry Analyst
Markets to Watch
- El Paso vans: El Paso, Texas, is across the border from Ciudad Juárez, a prominent manufacturing hub for importers. The average outbound dry van rate from El Paso was $1.58 a mile last week, 16 cents higher year over year.
- Philadelphia reefers: DAT’s Market Conditions Index (MCI) predicts capacity to remain tight this week. Philadelphia is the second-largest reefer spot market in the DAT freight network during winter, representing 3% of weekly volume. Top outbound load-post destinations by volume: Atlanta, Baltimore, and Hartford.
Flatbed Rates
“The national average flatbed linehaul rate has been within 3 cents of $2 a mile for the last 11 weeks.” Croke said. “The 52-week rolling average is $2.01 a mile. The 104-week rolling average is $2.02 a mile.”
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
