For the Driver

DAT: Spot TL capacity loosens

March 30, 2017

Truckers hit the road again after a spate of bad weather, and available capacity on the spot truckload market jumped 5.7% for the week ending March 25, reported DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.

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While volumes picked up on many top lanes, the total number of available loads dipped 0.4% and load-to-truck ratios slipped:

Van ratio: 3.2 loads per truck, down 6%
Reefer ratio: 6.3, down 4%
Flatbed ratio: 35.8, down 4%

The national average diesel price fell 1 cent to $2.53/gallon.

More capacity, less freight, and a 1-cent lower fuel surcharge compared to the previous week caused national average van and reefer spot rates to fall 1 cent per mile. The national average flatbed rate rose a penny.

VAN TRENDS

The national average spot truckload van rate was $1.63/mile, 1 cent lower due to the reduced fuel surcharge. Key regional trends:

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California: Los Angeles averaged $1.83/mile, up 1 cent. Volumes in California are improving slowly. As that happens, rates should improve in order to attract capacity.

Texas: The state is a hot spot for van freight, with Dallas adding 3 cents per mile to $1.56/mile.

Chicago: Chicago averaged 2 cents higher at $1.94/mile. Key lane: Chicago-Buffalo, up 18 cents to $2.33/mile.

REEFER TRENDS

At $1.86/mile, the average spot reefer rate is up just 1.5% from late February despite a 14% uptick in volume on the high-traffic lanes.

Denver outbound rates rose 10 cents to $1.38/mile. Denver-Phoenix averaged $1.77/mile, well above the norm. With the NCAA Final Four in Glendale this weekend, those beer coolers apparently need filling.

Other markets to watch:

Green Bay, $2.64/mile, up 2 cents
Dallas, $1.85/mile, up 9 cents
Lakeland, Fla., $1.36/mile, down 6 cents

Northeast markets calmed down after the winter weather passed. Elizabeth, N.J.-Boston thawed out, dropping 46 cents to $3.67/mile, and Philadelphia-Boston was down 15 cents to $3.35/mile.

FLATBED TRENDS

The flatbed load-to-truck ratio declined slightly after seven straight weeks of increases. Load posts fell 1% and truck posts increased 3% compared to the previous week.

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.

Get the latest rate trends at DAT.com