BEAVERTON, Ore.–( BUSINESS WIRE )–Truck demand in the spot market increased in December, suggesting solid retail and grocery sales ahead of the holidays, said DAT Freight & Analytics, which DAT One Freight Operates Marketplace and DAT IQ. Data analysis service.
Van and Refrigerated Truckload Volume Index (TVI) increased slightly compared to November:
- Van TVI: 260, up 2.4%
- Refrigerated TVI: 220, up 3%
- Flatbed TVI: 237, down 5%
Year over year, van and reefer TVI were up 12% and 20%, respectively, and flatbed TVI was up 7%.
December freight volumes were strong despite the quirks of the calendar, Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics, said, adding that Christmas fell on a Wednesday and Thanksgiving and the end of the year were the only three non-holiday weeks. A combination of seasonal volumes, fewer shipping days, and trucks taking time off for the holidays led to higher spot prices compared to November. The net fuel, van rate was the highest monthly average since January 2023.
Truckload rates have increased
National average spot rates increased for all three equipment types:
- Spot van: $2.11 per mile ($1.74 net fuel), up 9 cents from November
- Spot reefer: $2.47 ($2.06 net fuel), up 2 cents
- Spot flatbed: $2.39 ($1.94 net fuel), up 2 cents
National average contract van and flatbed rates rose last month:
- Contract van rate: $2.42 per mile, up 2 cents
- Contract Referral Rate: $2.74 per mile, no change
- Contract flatbed rate: $3.06 per mile, up 3 cents
The spread between van and reefer spot and contract rates narrowed for the fourth consecutive month and was the narrowest since March 2022, when spot rates entered a period of severe decline, Adamo said. When the difference between spot and long-term contract rates narrows, it’s a sign that capacity is strengthening and negotiating power is shifting to truckload carriers.
About the DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT truckload volume index shows the change in the number of loads with a pickup date during that month. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, as recorded in DAT RateView, a truckload pricing database and analysis tool paid at an average rate of 3 million monthly loads.
The DAT benchmark spot rate is derived from invoice data for distances of 250 miles or more with a pickup date during the reported month. Linehaul rates reduce an amount equal to the average fuel surcharge.
About DAT hire and analysis
DAT Freight & Analytics operates both the largest truckload freight marketplace and truckload freight data analytics service in North America. Shipping companies, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights based on a database of more than 400 million annual freight matches, and $150 billion in annual freight market transactions. .
Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (NASDAQ: NASDAQ: ), , and a part of the Fortune 1000. DAT is headquartered in Beaverton, Ore. Visit dat.com for more information.
See the source version at businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250121790828/en/
DAT contacts
Georgia Jablon
PR@dat.com / georgia.jablon@dat.com
Source: DAT Freight and Analysis
