Shift in seasonal patterns steers September 2013 freight volumes downhill
A shift in seasonal trends drove spot market freight volumes down 5.3% in September 2013, as reported by the DAT North American Freight Index.
Freight volumes remained stable throughout much of the third quarter, instead of a more typical decline in July that is followed by mixed trends in August and September. Compared with August, September load availability declined 1.6% for vans and 4.6% for flatbeds, but increased 1.1% for refrigerated (“reefer”) trailers.
Third quarter volume was up 13% versus the same period in 2012, but the second quarter lagged Q2 2012 by 16%. Year-to-date volume is 1.8% higher in 2013. These trends yielded a delayed, flattened peak that extended through Q3, as severe weather earlier in the year postponed agricultural and construction seasons and related freight movements.
Compared with September 2012, the index increased 22%, reaching the highest level recorded for the month of September since the index was established in 1996. Van freight volume rose 12%, flatbed loads climbed 43%, and freight designated for reefers added 30%.
Spot market rates rose for reefers and vans but declined for flatbeds on both a month-over month and year-over-year basis. Compared with August, van rates rose 0.7% and reefer rates gained 1.9%, while flatbed rates declined 8.1%. Compared with September 2012, van rates increased 3.8%, and reefer rates rose 4.5%, but rates declined 8.1% for flatbeds.
Additional trend information and analysis is available at DAT Trendlines or the DAT blog.
Reference rates are derived from DAT RateView. Rates are cited for linehaul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which declined versus September 2012 but rose on a month-over-month basis. The monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the TransCore DAT network of load boards in the United States and Canada.
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