Flatbed load availability and rates made big gains and the flatbed load-to-truck ratio hit a new record during the week ending March 10, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
The number of flatbed load posts increased 10.8% while truck posts dipped 1% compared to the previous week. There were 88.5 available loads for every flatbed truck posted on DAT load boards, up 11%. It was 61.8 a month ago and below 30 in November.
Flatbed freight includes construction materials, machinery, and other heavy loads. The national average flatbed rate was $2.50/mile, 11 cents higher compared to the previous week.
Houston was the largest market in terms of outbound flatbed freight volume. The number of available loads in Houston jumped 11.4% and the average outbound rate was up 6 cents to $2.70/mile.
After two weeks of rising volumes, the number of van loads slipped 0.6% last week while truck posts increased 3.1%. The result was a mostly neutral week in terms of rates; the national average spot van rate was $2.14/mile, unchanged for the third straight week. The van load-to-truck ratio was down slightly to 6.8 loads per truck.
