DAT spot rates and load-to-truck ratios, Week 34 2024

Two weeks before the Labor Day holiday and heading into Brake Safety Week, there were moderate declines across the board and little movement in linehaul rates

Freight Trends from DAT One and DAT iQ
Spot market data for August 18-24, 2024 (Week 34)

The total number of loads posted on DAT One fell 7.6% to 1.56 million last week, down 24% year over year. It was the lowest Week 34 total since 2019. Truck posts slipped 1.6% to 327,132.

Dry Vans
▼  Van loads: 734,478, down 9.0% week over week (28% lower Y/O/Y)
▼  Van equipment: 216,031, down 0.9% (13% lower Y/O/Y)
▼  Linehaul rate: $1.61 net fuel, down 1 cent week over week 
▼  Load-to-truck ratio: 3.4, down from 3.7

Reefers
▼  Reefer loads: 367,065, down 7.6% week over week (32% lower Y/O/Y)
▼  Reefer equipment: 64,675, down 3.8% (21% lower Y/O/Y)
—  Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, unchanged
▼  Load-to-truck ratio: 5.7, down from 5.9

Flatbeds
▼  Flatbed loads: 462,437, down 5.5% week over week (7% lower Y/O/Y)
▼  Flatbed equipment: 46,426, down 1.7% (19% lower Y/O/Y)
—  Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, unchanged
▼  Load-to-truck ratio: 10.0, down from 10.4

Market Notes from Dean Croke, DAT Principal Analyst:

• The linehaul rate on DAT One’s Top 50 van lanes (based on the number of loads moved) averaged $1.99 a mile, flat compared to last week but 38 cents higher than the national average.
• The national average reefer linehaul rate remained flat for the fourth week on 1% less volume of loads moved. At $1.97 a mile, reefer spot rates remained almost identical to last year and 2 cents lower than the three-month trailing average.
• August 25-31 is CVSA Brake Safety Week, a North American-wide campaign focused on brake inspections. Truckers often take time off this week to reduce their exposure to delays and inspections.

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