April Freight Slips Slightly

Spot-market freight volume slipped 3.4 percent in April, compared to March, according to DAT Solutions, which issued the report and called the drop “a typical seasonal pattern.

Spot truckload freight availability in April declined 8.9 percent for dry vans, volume for refrigerated (“reefer”) vans slipped 9.4 percent, and flatbed volume increased 3.9 percent. Line-haul rates on the spot market declined 1.5 percent for vans, and 0.6 percent for reefers, but flatbed rates increased 1.2 percent, month over month.

Compared to April 2015, overall spot market freight availability fell 30 percent. Year-over-year declines have been following a consistent pattern in every month since January 2015, due to lower demand for transportation services in the spot market, as well as readily available truck capacity.

Demand declined 38 percent for vans, 34 percent for reefer trailers, and 22 percent for flatbeds, year over year. Line-haul rates fell 16 percent for vans, 12 percent for reefers, and 8 percent for flatbeds in April, compared to same-month levels in 2015.

A 41 percent drop ($0.12) in the fuel surcharge also contributed to the decline in total carrier revenue per mile. The total rate includes both the line haul rate and the surcharge, which is pegged to the retail cost of diesel fuel.

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