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.
Reaching the highest-ever volume for the month of January, the DAT North American Freight Index increased 42 percent compared to January 2012. Freight volume was unusually robust for the season, exceeding December levels by 24 percent, and marks the first time since the Freight Index began when freight availability increased from December. Over the past 10 years, there has been a 13-percent average decline in freight levels between those two months.