Flatbed

November’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 197—fell 18% compared to October, while falling 12% annually. The November refrigerated (reefer) TVI—at 172—was down 11% sequentially and off 6.0% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 243—was down 22% sequentially and posted a 3% annual gain.   

October spot truckload volumes and rates were largely mixed again, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was recently released by DAT Freight and Analytics.

Load posts on DAT One rose 2% to 2.26 million last week, while truck posts fell for the second consecutive week, down 5% to 232,703.

Following August spot truckload volume and rate declines, September readings were more mixed, while conditions largely remained the same, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was released today by DAT Freight and Analytics.

DAT observed that July truckload freight volumes were steady, due to summer seasonality being paced by produce and retail goods moving on the road prior to the July 4 holiday, adding that volumes saw a gradual decline over the balance of July.

There were 1.93 million loads on the DAT One network during the week of June 29 to July 5 (Week 27), which is down 20% compared to the previous week and is expected when comparing a holiday week to a full workweek.

There were 2.3 million loads on the DAT One network during the week of June 22-28, the last full shipping week before the July 4 holiday,” said DAT. That’s 14% higher than the previous week, 2% less year over year, and nearly identical to Week 26 in 2023. The number of truck posts decreased by 11% to 229,752, 45% lower than the same week in 2024.

The firm said that van and reefer rates typically head up in May, driven by demand to move produce and retail goods in advance of Memorial Day increases, coupled with drivers planning downtime around the three-day Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Roadcheck enforcement, which takes place in mid-May.

Following a mixed March, spot truckload volumes and rates were again mixed in April, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Index, which was issued today by DAT Freight and Analytics.

The firm said that spot load posts for the week were up 10.8% sequentially, coming in at 2.25 million, which helped to counter declines seen in previous weeks, as well as signaling high seasonality with retail goods and produce on the move.

Flatbed activity spikes amid seasonal trends, while tariffs and supply chain anxiety cloud outlook.

DAT cited inventory replenishment efforts by shippers following the holidays—coupled with pulling forward imports ahead of anticipated tariff actions and also trying to secure flexible, short-term spot market capacity to better deal with harsh winter weather—as the main drivers for spot truckload freight volume gains.

Spot market trucking activity demand and rates saw gains over the month of December, in advance of the holidays, according to the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which issued today by DAT Freight and Analytics.

The van TVI, at 246, was up 18% compared to October and down 1% annually, while the refrigerated TVI, at 242, was down 23% compared to October and up 7% annually, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, was down 23% compared to October and down 5% annually.

For the week of December 1-6, DAT reported that 2.18 million loads were available, representing a 114% sequential increase, as well as posting the highest weekly tally since the week before the July 4 holiday.