Beaverton, Ore.-based DAT Freight & Analytics has reported spot truckload rates rose in June despite declines in the number of loads moved.
The DAT Truckload Volume Index, an indicator of loads moved during a given month, retreated from all-time highs for van and refrigerated, or reefer, loads in May:
- Van TVI — 266, down 9% month over month.
- Reefer TVI — 199, down 11%.
- Flatbed TVI — 279, down 7%
Year over year, the van and flatbed TVI dipped 3% and 5%, respectively. The reefer TVI was up 7% compared to June 2023.
“The month ended strong for dry van freight, with nearly 25% more volume moving during the final week of June compared to last year,” Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics, said in a news release. “While demand for trucking services entered July on a high note, we expect freight activity to ease during the summer. This remains a challenging market for freight carriers and brokers.”
Despite the volume decline in June, DAT reported spot rates rose for all three equipment types. The spot van rate was $2.07 per mile, up 6 cents from May. Spot reefer rates were $2.45 per mile in June, up 4 cents from May. Spot flatbed rates were $2.53 per mile in June, up 1 cent from May.
The average van line-haul rate was $1.64 a mile, up 6 cents compared to May, while DAT said the reefer rate gained 5 cents to $1.99, and the flatbed rate increased 1 cent to $2.02. Line-haul rates subtract an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge.
National average rates for contracted van and reefer freight ticked higher in June, with contract reefer rates pegged at $2.81 per mile, up 2 cents from May.
National average van and reefer load-to-truck ratios increased for the fourth straight month in June, reflecting a combination of higher demand and fewer trucks in the marketplace, according to DAT.
