Spot Rates Firm on Stronger Demand, Lower Capacity

Load-to-truck ratios on the spot truckload market got a bump during the week ending Jan. 30, possibly due to pent-up demand after the previous week’s storms, according to DAT Solutions.

The total number of spot market loads increased 10% while available capacity fell 2.5% for the week.

On the van market, the number of load posts was up 13% while truck posts fell 3%, leading to a 16% increase in the van load-to-truck ratio (1.7 loads per truck). The national average van rate was unchanged at $1.65 per mile.

The number of posted reefer loads rose 6% and truck posts declined 3%, leading to a 9% increase in the reefer load-to-truck ratio (3.8 loads per truck).

Overall, the national average reefer rate declined 1 cent to $1.88 per mile. Available flatbed load volume was up 11% while capacity increased 2%, yielding a 13% increase in the flatbed load-to-truck ratio to 8.3 loads per truck. The average flatbed rate was $1.85 per mile, down 2 cents compared to the previous week.

Diesel prices fell another 4 cents to a national average of $2.03 per gallon.

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