“There were 1.94 million loads available on the DAT One network last week, down 10% compared to the previous week but 19% higher compared to Week 43 in 2023, according to a DAT one press release. “There were 335,458 available trucks, a 1.5% decline week over week.”
Promising trends in van freight
“Excluding the pandemic-affected 2021 and 2022, van load posts for Week 43 were 27% higher than in previous years, said Dean Croke, DAT industry analyst. “Van capacity was flat compared to the previous week, pushing the dry van load-to-truck ratio lower. That’s still strong compared to other years: only 2021 had a higher Week 43 when the van ratio was 5.25.”
Linehaul van rate was unmoved
According to Croke, at $1.65 a mile, the national average linehaul van rate was virtually unchanged for the fourth straight week. This is 3 cents lower than the three-month trailing average but 11 cents higher than the same time last year.
Reefer load posts cooled
“National reefer load postings dropped by 15% last week after a surge the previous week,” Croke said. “This decrease was partly due to an 8% drop in USDA produce volumes in California compared to the previous week. However, reefer load posts on DAT One were 6% higher than last year.”
Flatbed rates continued to dip.
Croke added that the national average linehaul flatbed rate fell a penny to $1.97 a mile, 2 cents lower than the three-month trailing average. With load volume up 7% week over week and 3% month over month, weaker prices signal ample capacity in the market.
Dry Vans
▼ Van loads: 912,255, down 9% week over week
▼ Van equipment: 221,998, down 1.5%
— Linehaul rate: $1.65 net fuel, unchanged
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 4.1, down from 4.4
Reefers
▼ Reefer loads: 381,447, down 15% week over week
▼ Reefer equipment: 69,033, down 0.5%
▼ Linehaul rate: $1.98 net fuel, down 1 cent
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 5.5, down from 6.5
Flatbeds
▼ Flatbed loads: 649,631, down 8% week over week
▼ Flatbed equipment: 44,427, down 3%
▼ Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, down 2 cents
▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 14.6, down from 15.4
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
“Situated within a one-day drive of major U.S. markets, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. and Allentown, Pa., is a vital distribution hub for e-commerce freight,” Croke said. “Outbound van truckload volumes are about 25% higher than last year, leading to a 12% increase in spot rates last week. Notably, the average rate from Allentown to Charlotte, N.C.—a high-volume van lane—was the highest in 12 months at $1.77 per mile. DAT iQ RateView forecasts the rate to peak at around $2 a mile during the Christmas season—35 cents higher than last year.”
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.
