Spot load posts declined across all three equipment types, led by lower reefer demand

The number of posted loads on DAT One slipped to 2.19 million, down 4.2% week over week, mainly on lower demand for reefer capacity. Truck posts fell to 249,599, down 3.7% week over week and 36% year over year. We continue to monitor cargo traffic at West Coast ports, where container ship arrivals are expected to be substantially lower this week.

Dry Vans

▼ Van loads: 837,218, down 3.3% week over week

▼ Van equipment: 174,486, down 4.7%

▲ Linehaul rate: $1.62 net fuel, up 1 cent

Reefers

▼ Reefer loads: 396,867, down 11.8% week over week

▼ Reefer equipment: 45,322, down 4.9%

▲ Linehaul rate: $1.92 net fuel, up 2 cents

Flatbeds

▼ Flatbed loads: 956,165, down 1.4% week over week

▲ Flatbed equipment: 29,791, up 4.9%

▼ Linehaul rate: $2.16 net fuel, down 1 cent

Market Notes from Dean Croke, DAT iQ industry analyst:

Reefer load-post volumes uncharacteristically dropped last week at a time when they typically start to increase, especially at month-end when shippers clear their loading docks of inventory. Lower load and equipment posts resulted in a national average reefer load-to-truck ratio of 8.8, a 7% dip compared to the previous week.

Expect refrigerated truckload volumes from southern Florida to surge, with floral shipments moving out of Miami ahead of Mother’s Day. This week, Miami will be a hot market as shippers rush to fill last-minute orders, especially on the Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth lanes. Last year, loads from Miami to Atlanta paid carriers an average of $2.64 a mile and rose $1.18 in the two weeks leading up to Mother’s Day.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is May 13-15. International Roadcheck is an annual three-day, high-visibility, high-volume commercial vehicle and driver inspection blitz in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Inspectors will focus on two critical areas: tires and records of duty status (e.g., hours-of-service compliance). It’s not unusual to see capacity tighten during this event, with some truckers wanting to avoid enforcement exposure and inspection-related delays.