With the national average diesel price falling below $2 per gallon, truckload rates on the spot market continued on a downward trend. Freight brokers usually quote a one-time price that includes both a line-haul portion and the fuel surcharge; declining fuel prices influence spot market rates significantly.
After spiking to start the year, load-to-truck ratios and truckload rates on the spot market slid downward during the week ending Jan. 16, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
Spot market freight volume declined 9.7 percent in October, in a common seasonal pattern, according to the DAT North American Freight Index. Although volume fell below same-month levels of the past five years, total volume for the year to-date has exceeded the same period for every year prior to an atypical 2014.
U.S. average rates on the spot truckload market remained elevated during the week ending June 13, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. Rates in all three equipment categories held firm on the heels of big increases during the first week of June.
National average spot truckload rates drifted downward amid weaker demand during the week ending April 18, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
Spot market volume slipped and average truckload rates edged downward during the week ending Jan. 24, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
The average spot van rate on DAT load boards was unchanged at $2.01 per mile during the week ending Nov. 1, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards (all figures include fuel surcharge). This is the third straight week the average van rate has been unchanged. Van rates have been above $2.00 per mile for most of 2014.
Van, refrigerated, and flatbed capacity on DAT load boards expanded 3.6 percent while available freight slipped 5.0 percent during the week ending Oct. 11, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
Capacity pressure eased during the week ending June 14 as spot truckload freight availability dipped 0.7 percent and the number of available trucks increased 12 percent, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.
