Weekly truckload spot load volumes see mixed results, reports DAT

Data recently issued on the DAT One network provided to LM by DAT Freight & Analytics pointed to mixed metrics for truckload spot market load posts, for the week of November 3-9.

DAT reported that 1.8 million loads were available, representing a nearly 8% sequential decline and a 15% annual increase. The firm added that there was a total of 307,925 available trucks posted on the DAT One network, falling 6% and marking the lowest tally going back to the week of Labor Day.

The weekly breakdown for van loads, van equipment, load-to-truck ration and linehaul rates for Dry Vans, Reefers (refrigerated), and flatbeds provided by DAT is below:

Dry Vans

• Van loads: 823,754, down 10% week-over-week;
• Van equipment: 204,207, down 6%;
• Linehaul rate: $1.67 net fuel, up 2 cents; 
• Load-to-truck ratio: 4.0, down from 4.2

Reefers

• Reefer loads: 397,713, down 4% week-over-week;
• Reefer equipment: 60,199, down 9.5%;
• Linehaul rate: $2.03 net fuel, up 1 cent;
• Load-to-truck ratio: 6.6, up from 6.2

Flatbeds

• Flatbed loads: 569,028, down 5.9% week over week
• Flatbed equipment: 43,519, virtually unchanged
• Linehaul rate: $1.99 net fuel, up 2 cents
• Load-to-truck ratio: 13.1, down from 13.9

DAT iQ Industry Analyst Dean Croke observed that the number of dry van load posts declined by 10%, much the same as last year in the first shipping week of November.

“However, the figure was 14% higher year over year,” he said. “Excluding the pandemic-affected years of 2021 and 2022, van load posts for Week 45 are 5% higher than in previous years, indicating ongoing strength in the spot market.

As for spot van rates, at $1.67 a mile, he said they are “holding up,” stating that last week’s national average linehaul van rate was around 11 cents higher year over year and up 4 cents since the ILA strike and hurricanes Milton and Helene made landfall.

Looking at flatbed, Croke said that load volumes continued to slide

“Following the surge in activity resulting from hurricanes Milton and Helene, flatbed load volumes continued to decline last week,” he said. “Compared to the previous week, volumes in the Southeast fell 8% and 9% in the Lakeland, Florida, market.”