DAT: Spot volume slips, rates hold

Spot truckload freight volume and available capacity both fell during the week ending May 21, reported DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. However, load-to-truck ratios increased and diesel prices have been rising sharply—an indication that spot rates may pick up soon, the update adds. The number of spot market load posts fell 4%, driven by a 6% drop in flatbed load volume. But fewer truck posts compared to the previous week helped boost load-to-truck ratios across all three equipment types: the van ratio gained 1%, to 1.7 loads per truck; the reefer ratio increased 18% to 3.3; and the flatbed ratio was up 5% to 15.4. Load-to-truck ratios measure the number of loads posted for each available truck on the DAT network. Changes in the ratio often signal impending changes in rates, according to DAT. National average spot truckload rates held firm last week. The van rate was down 1 cent to $1.53/mile, the reefer rate was down a penny to $1.87/mile, and the flatbed rate was unchanged at $1.91/mile for the third week in a row.Reefer Trends

Spot reefer rates rose on more than half of the highest-volume lanes. The high-dollar market in each region:

• West: Los Angeles, $2.41/mile, unchanged
• Midwest: Grand Rapids, Mich., $2.39/mile, up 2 cents
• South Central: McAllen, Texas, $1.88/mile, down 1 cent
• Southeast: Miami, $2.06/mile, unchanged
• Northeast: Philadelphia, $2.16/mile, down 9 cents

Atlanta and Lakeland, Fla., are still No. 1 and 2 for reefer load posts on DAT load boards, though volumes slipped a bit in Central Florida.Van Trends

Volume was up in Houston, the country’s No. 2 market for van load posts on DAT load boards after Atlanta. Chicago’s average outbound rate was down 2 cents to $1.71/mile, and rail competition is killing the lane from Chicago to L.A.: the average spot van rate lost another 14 cents to just $1.05/mile. Rates are derived from DAT RateView, which provides real-time reports on prevailing spot market and contract rates, as well as historical rate and capacity trends. All reported rates include fuel surcharges. For complete national and regional reports on spot rates and demand, visit DAT Trendlines, a weekly report on spot market freight availability, truck capacity, and rates.