Freight trends from DAT One and DAT iQ

Aug 21, 2024

Spot loads on DAT One declined marginally; truck posts were down 5.5%

The number of loads posted on DAT One edged 1% lower to 1.67 million last week, which is 11% lower year over year. Truck posts fell 5.5% to 317,457. Compared to Week 33 in 2019 (pre-pandemic conditions), load posts were up 9% and truck posts were down 17%.

Dry Vans

▼ Van loads: 799,020, down 3.3% week over week (16% lower Y/O/Y)

▼ Van equipment: 208,792, down 5.4% (18% lower Y/O/Y)

▼ Linehaul rate: $1.62 net fuel, down 1 cent week over week

— Load-to-truck ratio: 3.8, unchanged

Reefers

▼ Reefer loads: 387,070, down 6.0% week over week (21% lower Y/O/Y)

▼ Reefer equipment: 63,102, down 4.7% (24% lower Y/O/Y)

— Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, unchanged

▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 6.1, down from 6.2

Flatbeds

▲ Flatbed loads: 486,836, up 7.8% week over week (12% higher Y/O/Y)

▼ Flatbed equipment: 45,563, down 7.3% (24% lower Y/O/Y)

▼ Linehaul rate: $1.97 net fuel, down 2 cents

▲ Load-to-truck ratio: 10.7, up from 9.2

Market Notes from Dean Croke, DAT Principal Analyst:

DAT One’s Top 50 van lanes (based on the number of loads moved) averaged $1.99 a mile, down 1 cent week over week but 37 cents higher than the national average.
After a flat four weeks, reefer load posts sagged last week. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture reported that truckload produce shipments were down 4% year over year. Weather played a role in the mid-Atlantic region, where the remnants of Hurricane Debby soaked Maryland and Delaware.
After four weeks of declines, flatbed load post volumes reversed course and rose 8%. The market found sufficient capacity, however, resulting in another 2-cent decrease in the national average spot rate. The rate was 4 cents higher than the same week last year and 9 cents higher than in 2019.
Next week is CVSA Brake Safety Week. From August 25-31, jurisdictions in North America will increase commercial vehicle and driver inspections with a focus on brake linings and pads.

29-Oct-23	$1.54	3.3	$1.89	5.9	$1.83	8.8
5-Nov-23	$1.53	2.6	$1.92	5.2	$1.82	7.1
12-Nov-23	$1.54	2.9	$1.95	5.4	$1.81	7.4
19-Nov-23	$1.59	2.5	$1.95	3.2	$1.82	5.5
26-Nov-23	$1.64	5.6	$1.93	6.5	$1.86	10.8
3-Dec-23	$1.63	3.4	$1.90	4.0	$1.85	7.9
10-Dec-23	$1.62	3.0	$1.89	3.7	$1.84	8.2
17-Dec-23	$1.67	3.3	$1.98	5.0	$1.92	8.1
24-Dec-23	$1.72	4.1	$2.18	9.6	$1.94	8.2
31-Dec-23	$1.70	5.4	$2.10	9.4	$1.92	14.2
7-Jan-24	$1.68	4.1	$2.06	7.0	$1.94	13.2
14-Jan-24	$1.72	5.1	$2.13	9.6	$1.96	12.9
21-Jan-24	$1.72	4.7	$2.09	7.3	$1.97	13.0
28-Jan-24	$1.70	3.9	$2.04	6.2	$1.97	12.7
4-Feb-24	$1.64	2.9	$1.98	4.8	$1.95	12.5
11-Feb-24	$1.59	2.8	$1.92	4.6	$1.93	13.7
18-Feb-24	$1.56	2.5	$1.87	3.9	$1.91	13.6
25-Feb-24	$1.55	3.0	$1.85	4.3	$1.92	16.0
3-Mar-24	$1.55	2.9	$1.86	4.7	$1.92	17.4
10-Mar-24	$1.54	3.2	$1.87	5.0	$1.93	17.9
17-Mar-24	$1.54	3.3	$1.85	5.0	$1.97	19.7
24-Mar-24	$1.55	3.9	$1.86	5.3	$1.98	21.3
31-Mar-24	$1.54	3.5	$1.83	4.5	$1.97	21.1
7-Apr-24	$1.53	4.0	$1.82	5.1	$1.97	19.7
14-Apr-24	$1.52	3.2	$1.81	4.4	$1.97	17.4
21-Apr-24	$1.51	3.2	$1.83	4.6	$1.96	15.8
28-Apr-24	$1.53	3.7	$1.88	5.5	$1.97	17.6
5-May-24	$1.55	3.6	$1.90	5.2	$1.99	16.5
12-May-24	$1.61	4.9	$1.96	7.9	$2.03	19.4
19-May-24	$1.65	4.6	$1.98	6.4	$2.07	17.6
26-May-24	$1.66	5.1	$1.97	6.1	$2.07	18.8
2-Jun-24	$1.66	4.2	$1.97	5.8	$2.08	17.4
9-Jun-24	$1.66	4.3	$1.98	6.3	$2.08	15.2
16-Jun-24	$1.69	4.9	$2.00	7.6	$2.06	13.3
23-Jun-24	$1.70	5.7	$2.03	8.7	$2.08	13.7
30-Jun-24	$1.70	3.6	$2.04	5.8	$2.05	9.1
7-Jul-24	$1.67	4.7	$2.00	7.1	$2.05	14.2
14-Jul-24	$1.65	4.0	$2.00	6.3	$2.02	12.5
21-Jul-24	$1.64	3.9	$1.96	6.2	$2.00	11.5
28-Jul-24	$1.64	4.4	$1.97	6.9	$2.02	11.4
4-Aug-24	$1.63	3.8	$1.97	6.2	$1.99	9.2
11-Aug-24	$1.62	3.8	$1.97	6.1	$1.97	10.7