National average spot truckload rates strengthened, however:
- Vans: $1.69/mile, up 6 cents
- Reefers: $1.93/mile, up 6 cents
- Flatbeds: $2.07/mile, up 4 cents
The number of refrigerated load and truck posts was virtually unchanged compared to the previous week. The reefer load-to-truck ratio rose slightly to 6.8 loads per truck. A 6% drop in van load posts contributed to an 8% decline in the van load-to-truck ratio to 3.4.
Flatbed load posts held steady and truck posts increased 4%, which sent the flatbed load-to-truck ratio down 4% to 39.1.
VAN TRENDS
Van load counts in Atlanta rose and the average outbound rate gained 2 cents to $1.94/mile last week. Rates increased on major inbound lanes, unusual for this time of year. Memphis-Atlanta paid 13 cents better at an average of $2.23/mile compared to last week.
Freight volumes and rates slipped in the Charlotte market, which lost fruit in a mid-March freeze. That seemed to have a spillover effect into van capacity: Charlotte van rates dropped 3 cents to $1.89/mile.
REEFER TRENDS
At $2.04/mile, McAllen, Texas, was unchanged compared to the previous week. Shipments out of the Santa Maria District pushed rates up out of the Fresno market, while Los Angeles reefer freight averaged $2.34/mile, up 7 cents.
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
