DAT Freight Index: Spot Market Truckload Rates Soar in January

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 13, 2018 -- Spot truckload rates for van, refrigerated (“reefer”) and flatbed freight set new records in January as capacity remained tight due to shipper demand and fallout from the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, according to DAT Solutions, which operates North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace.

The national average spot van rate was $2.26 per mile in January, 59 cents higher than January 2017, setting an all-time record. January’s spot rate also exceeded the average contract rate by 14 cents, meaning that truckload carriers were paid more for one-time loads from freight brokers than for longer-term contracts negotiated directly with shippers Spot truckload freight availability increased 28 percent over December and 65 percent compared to January 2017, as shown in the DAT North American Freight Index. The Index is a sensitive indicator of demand for transportation services published monthly by DAT.

The national average spot van rate was $2.26 per mile in January, up 15 cents compared to December and 59 cents higher than January 2017, to set an all-time record. January’s spot rate also exceeded the average contract rate by 14 cents, meaning that truckload carriers were paid more for one-time loads from freight brokers than for longer-term contracts negotiated directly with shippers.

At $2.66 per mile, the national average spot reefer rate was 18 cents higher month over month and 71 cents higher compared to January 2017. As with vans, the reefer rate was higher than any monthly average since at least 2010, when DAT began tracking spot market freight rates in DAT RateView.  The spot rate was 31 cents higher than the average contract rate, an extraordinary gap for reefer freight in January.

The national average flatbed spot rate was $2.39 per mile, 7 cents higher compared to December and 47 cents higher year over year. The spot rate beat the average contract rate by 7 cents. Flatbed line haul rates, excluding fuel, were higher for flatbeds in January than in any previous month. When fuel surcharges are added, however, January’s total rates for flatbeds were a few cents lower than in the summer of 2014, when average surcharges were 20 cents above today’s levels.

Economic growth contributed to the surge in rates but so did capacity constraints related to ELDs. Beginning December 18, 2017, federal rules required interstate carriers to use ELDs to record driver hours of service, and many fleets have reported the transition can hamper productivity, at least temporarily.

These factors caused demand for spot truckload freight services to increase 28 percent over December and 65 percent compared to January 2017, as shown in the DAT North American Freight Index. The Index is a sensitive indicator of demand for transportation services published monthly by DAT.

Established in 1978, DAT operates a network of load boards serving intermediaries and carriers across North America. For more than a decade DAT has published its Freight Index, which is representative of the dynamic spot market.

Referenced rates are the averages, by equipment type, based on $45 billion of actual transactions, as recorded in DAT RateView. Reference rates per mile include fuel surcharges, but not accessorials or other fees. The DAT Freight Index reflects load posting volume on the DAT network of load boards, and 100 on the Index represents the average monthly volume in the year 2000. Additional trends and analysis are available at DAT Trendlines.

About DAT Solutions

DAT operates the largest truckload freight marketplace in North America. Transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights derived from 179 million freight matches in 2017, and a database of $45 billion of market transactions. Related services include a comprehensive directory of companies with business history, credit, safety, insurance and company reviews; broker transportation management software; authority, fuel tax, mileage, vehicle licensing, and registration services; and carrier onboarding.

Founded in 1978, DAT Solutions LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Roper Technologies (NYSE:ROP), a diversified technology company and constituent of the S&P 500, Fortune 1000, and Russell 1000 indices. DAT.com

Contact:

Eileen Hart
Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications
[email protected] | 503-672-5132

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