Spot Load Volume Up 8.5%, Rates Down

The number of loads on the spot market jumped 8.5% during the week ending Feb. 27 while available capacity rose 1.2%, according to DAT Solutions.

Despite greater demand for truckload services, national average van, reefer, and flatbed freight spot rates all slipped compared to the previous week.

The number of van load posts increased 3% while truck posts gained 2%. The load-to-truck ratio held steady at 1.4 loads per truck, meaning there were 1.4 van loads for every truck posted on the DAT network. The national average van rate declined 4 cents to $1.54 per mile.

Reefer load posts fell 2% and truck posts were up less than 1% last week. As a result, the load-to-truck ratio slid 2%, from 2.9 to 2.8 loads per truck, while the national average reefer rate fell 5 cents to $1.79 per mile.

Flatbed load volume rose again, up 17%, while available capacity decreased 2%. That yielded a 19% increase in the national load-to-truck ratio, up from 10.6 to 12.6 loads per truck. The national average flatbed rate gave up 3 cents last week to $1.80 per mile.

Compared to January, spot market rates declined in February as the total number of posted loads fell 2.4% and available capacity rose 12%. Rates are expected to rebound seasonally in March.

The national average diesel price rose 1 cent to $1.99 per gallon.

Category: Featured