Van, Reefer Volumes Grow

Potentially signaling the movement of holiday goods, the number of posted van and refrigerated loads on the spot truckload market increased during the week ending Nov. 7, according to DAT Solutions.

Van load availability increased 4.5% and the national average truckload van spot market rate showed its first gain in weeks, rising a penny to $1.72 per mile despite a 1-cent decline in the average fuel surcharge. The average van rate showed life in key markets including Los Angeles (up 2 cents to $1.99 per mile), Memphis ($2.04, up 7 cents), Chicago ($1.96, up 1 cent), and Columbus, Ohio ($1.85, up 1 cent).

The load-to-truck ratio rose 7.5% to 1.6 loads per truck, meaning there were 1.6 available van loads for every truck posted on the DAT network. The van load-to-truck ratio remains well behind the 2.8 mark at this time last year.

The national average spot refrigerated freight rate was unchanged at $1.94 per mile as a 1-cent increase in the line-haul rate was offset by a 1-cent decline in the average fuel surcharge. Outbound rates rose in major markets in California and Florida, and reefer load availability increased 7.1% while available capacity declined 1.2%. As a result, the reefer load-to-truck ratio rose 8.4% to 3.9 loads per truck.

Flatbed load availability declined 10.4% while flatbed truck posts dropped 5.9%. The national flatbed load-to-truck ratio dropped 4.8% to 8.1 loads per truck, while the national average flatbed rate fell 3 cents to $1.97 per mile.

The national average price of diesel rose 2 cents to $2.50 per gallon last week. All reported rates include fuel surcharges.

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