Dry van and refrigerated spot rates dip after post-holiday surge, flatbed gains continue

Last week, dry van and refrigerated spot rates dropped for the first time in a month, according to weekly reports from FTR Transportation Intelligence and DAT Freight & Analytics.

According to FTR, rates were just 4% higher than this time last year. The firm noted that “refrigerated spot rates gave back most of the prior week’s big gain, and dry van spot rates decreased slightly after five straight weeks of increases. Flatbed spot rates were up for a fourth straight week to their strongest level in 10 weeks.”

Here is how rates and volumes changed across the three major spot market equipment types:

Dry van rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates dropped just under a cent last week. Year over year, rates are up around 4%. Dry van loads dropped almost 4% after the previous post-holiday rebound.

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose $0.08 per mile last week, averaging $1.89 per mile. This rate is about 9% higher than last year.

Refrigerated rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates fell 18.5 cents last week, following the previous week’s post-holiday increases. Rates were a little over 4% higher than last year. Refrigerated loads dropped 10.7% after a 90.3% increase the previous week, with volumes down about 10% compared to last year.

According to DAT: The national seven-day rolling average for spot rates rose $0.03 per mile week over week, reaching $2.21. This rate is 10% higher than last year.

Flatbed rates and volumes

According to FTR: Spot rates rose just over 1 cent last week. Year over year, rates were up just over 4%. Flatbed loads dropped 5% last week after the post-holiday surge. 

According to DAT: National linehaul spot rates rose $0.02 per mile last week, averaging $2.07 per mile. This rate is 5% higher than last year.