DAT spot rates and load-to-truck ratios, week 29

Freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ

Spot market data for July 14-20, 2024 (Week 29)

Load posts on DAT One dipped by 12%, truck posts were virtually unchanged

The number of loads posted on DAT One decreased by almost 12% to 1.87 million last week, a sign of summer seasonality. The total number of loads was 2% higher year over year. Total truck posts increased 0.7% to 330,208.

Dry Vans

▼ Van loads: 870,955, down 14.2% week over week

▲ Van equipment: 217,675, up 1.1%

▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 4.0, down from 4.7

▼ Linehaul rate: $1.65 net fuel, down 2 cents week over week

Reefers

▼ Reefer loads: 414,710, down 12.8% week over week

▼ Reefer equipment: 65,491, down 3.0%

▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 6.3, down from 7.0

— Linehaul rate: $2.00 net fuel, unchanged

Flatbeds

▼ Flatbed loads: 586,513, down 8.3% week over week

▲ Flatbed equipment: 47,042, up 4.3%

▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 12.5, down from 14.2

▼ Linehaul rate: $2.02 net fuel, down 2 cents

Market Notes from Dean Croke, DAT Principal Analyst:

• The average linehaul rate on DAT’s Top 50 van lanes, based on the volume of loads moved, was $2.06 a mile, down 2 cents week over week and 41 cents higher than the national average.
• The national average reefer linehaul rate decreases consistently as produce volumes trail off over the summer. Last week, reefer linehaul rates were flat at $2.00 a mile for the second week, a penny higher than last year and 3 cents higher than the three-month trailing average.
• Even though flatbed load post volumes dropped by 8% last week, they remain 17% higher than last year. Directionally, flatbed linehaul rates are following solid seasonal trends. Last year, flatbed spot rates decreased by 19 cents from this point to mid-November.