Spot market freight availability as measured by the DAT North American Freight Index has run high since July 2013 due to factors including extraordinary weather events, regulatory changes and driver shortages. May 2014 extends the trend, becoming the eleventh consecutive month to post a year-over-year record high, a 40 percent increase over last May. Month over month, however, May freight volumes declined 2.1 percent compared to April.
Spot market freight availability rose 10 percent in December 2013 compared to November, according to the DAT North American Freight Index, capping two quarters of unusually strong seasonal volume. Typically, freight levels peak in the second quarter of the year, fall in Q3, and remain low through year end. This year, a high plateau remained through most of the second half of 2013, according to the company.
After a summer of strong, steady activity, spot market truckload freight volume showed a seasonal decline, dipping 5.3 percent in September compared to August, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.
Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose 0.4 percent in August compared to July. Freight typically peaks on the spot market in June, but this year the robust volumes continued through the entire summer.
Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose 2.2 percent in June, compared to May. The month-over-month increase fell slightly short of seasonal norms; while freight volume increased from May to June in eight of the past ten years, the average increase was 10 percent.
Many shippers could save money by taking advantage of the substantial spot market for transportation, says Ralph Galantine, product manager at DAT. Capacity varies greatly by lane, however, so good market data is essential.
