Truckload Volume Off in April

Average spot truckload rates rose last month for vans, refrigerated (“reefer”), and flatbed freight, on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis.

“It’s not unusual for truckload freight activity to give ground in April, but national average load-to-truck ratios and rates last month were higher than expected,” said Mark Montague, DAT industry pricing analyst.

While van demand declined 4.5 percent compared to March, the national average load-to-truck ratio was up 8 percent month over month, and rose 127 percent year over year. The load-to-truck ratio measures the number of available loads for each truck posted on the DAT Network of load boards, and is an indicator of the balance between capacity and demand for freight services. That balance favored carriers in April, as indicated by an increase in the national average spot rate of $1.67 per mile for vans, up 4 cents compared to March and up 17 cents compared to April 2016, including fuel surcharges.

The spot reefer freight market experienced a similar trend. Reefer demand declined 5.4 percent compared to March, but demand was 87 percent higher year over year. The load-to-truck ratio rose for reefers, and so did truckload rates. At $1.94 per mile, the average spot reefer rate was 7 cents higher compared to March and 14 cents higher year over year.

In the flatbed segment, the national average rate increased 4 cents to $2.07 per mile compared to March and was 17 cents higher year over year. Flatbed demand has been robust, and load-to-truck ratios are elevated, in 2017 to-date, but freight volume was unchanged (down 0.3 percent) compared to March, and up 43 percent compared to April 2016. Flatbed demand typically peaks in May and June, so demand could continue to increase this year, Montague said.