Spot Truckload Volume Declines 1%

After March closed with a spike in activity, spot truckload volume dipped 1% and the number of posted trucks increased 6.2% during the week ending April 9, reported DAT Solutions.

Flatbed load volume rose 9% and capacity increased 3% compared to the previous week, resulting in a 6% increase in the load-to-truck ratio to 23.5. The national average flatbed rate rose 1 cent to $1.92 per mile with strong demand in the Southeast.

Several markets in the region experienced higher average outbound rates, led by Jacksonville, Fla., up 18 cents to $2.45 per mile.

Van load posts fell 13% and truck posts increased 7% as rates trended down on 63 of the top 100 van lanes. Most of the adjustments were small: Los Angeles outbound fell a penny to an average of $1.84 per mile; Denver dropped 1 cent to $1.13; Buffalo fell 4 cents to $1.91; and Atlanta dipped 1 cent to $1.70.

Nationally, the van load-to-truck ratio was 1.6, down from 1.9 the previous week, and the average van rate fell 4 cents to $1.53 per mile.

Reefer load posts declined 12% while truck posts gained 7% last week. As a result, the reefer load-to-truck ratio fell from 3.2 to 2.6 and the average reefer rate declined 2 cents to $1.80 per mile.

Regionally, produce season is winding down in Florida while California is slowly improving; more produce from Mexico led to a surge in volume out of Nogales, Ariz.

The national average diesel price was up 1 cent at $2.13 a gallon.

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