Spot TL Freight Volume Up 3.5%

The number of available loads on the spot truckload freight market increased 3.5% during the week ending July 30, sending load-to-truck ratios higher at the close of July, according to DAT Solutions.

Here’s what’s a big surprise: at $1.64/mile, the monthly average spot rate for vans in July was 2 cents higher than the average in June, when shippers typically have more demand for truckload capacity.

VANS: The number of van load posts increased 6% last week with shippers working to close July on a high note. The van load-to-truck ratio rose slightly to 2.8 loads per truck on a 5% drop in the number of posted trucks. Regionally, markets with the highest average rates showed little or no change compared to the previous week:

– Southeast: Charlotte, N.C., $1.95/mile, unchanged
– West: Los Angeles, $2.12/mile, up 2 cents
– Midwest: Chicago, $1.86/mile, unchanged
– South Central: Dallas, $1.58/mile, unchanged
– Northeast: Allentown, Pa., $2.00/mile, down 1 cent

REEFERS: The number of reefer load posts gained 13% last week while truck posts fell 5%, which led to an 18% jump in the reefer load-to-truck ratio to 5.1 loads per truck. However, the national average spot reefer rate fell another 3 cents to $1.93/mile. That’s below the June average but only by 4 cents. By comparison, last year’s national reefer rate dropped 10 cents from June to July.

FLATBEDS: The number of flatbed load posts declined 3% and truck posts declined 7% last week, which caused the load-to-truck ratio to increase 5% to 14.4 loads per truck. The national average flatbed rate increased 1 cent per mile to $1.92/mile.

Most major flatbed markets were down but one bucked that trend: Raleigh, N.C., where strong construction activity helped propel spot rates up 14 cents last week to an average of $2.54/mile. The lane from Raleigh to Tampa gained 35 cents in the past month to $2.55/mile.

The national average price of diesel slipped 3 cents to $2.35/gallon.

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