Trucking Rates

The second quarter edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, highlighted how various freight transportation modes are dealing with various issues, including tariff-related actions and an anticipated downward shift in consumer confidence, which could potentially impact prospects for a freight market recovery.

DAT observed that spot rates declined even though there was an uptick in demand for trucks.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading came in at 0.49, marking an improvement over September’s -2.47 reading.

Earlier this week, Beaverton, Ore.-based DAT Freight & Analytics, operator of the largest North American-based truckload freight marketplace sad it has acquired Trucker Tools, a Reston, Va.-based provider of trip planning, shipment visibility and freight matching solutions.

The October shipments reading, at 1.081, fell 2.4% annually, following a 5.2% annual decline in September. Expenditures, at 3.175, fell 5.9% annually.

For August, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 2.9.

FTR said that August’s gains were paced by a return to consistent fuel price decreases, which it said was the biggest factor in better carrier market conditions, with all factors weighed in the TCI seeing at least minimal improvements.

The new edition of the TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, which was recently released by New York-based investment firm TD Cowen Inc. and Shreveport, La.-based 3PL and freight audit and payment company AFS Logistics LLC, was somewhat mixed, with what it called unprecedented parcel pricing, as well as more established trends for truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) rates.

DAT reported that total spot loads posted on the DAT One Network sequentially increased 14.9%, to 2.01 million, representing the highest weekly tally of available loads going back to the week of July 7-July 13. While loads saw gains, DAT said weekly truck posts headed down 16.3%, to 275,594, with the company citing velocity in East Coast freight networks seeing what it called a dramatic slowdown, driven by the pairing of bad weather and, on a lesser level, the short-lived port strike.

The van TVI, at 289, was up 2.8% over July and up 6.3% annually,and the refrigerated TVI, at 220, was up 4.3% compared to July and up 17.6% annually; The flatbed TVI, at 287, was up 0.3% compared to July and down 0.3% annually, snapping a three-month stretch of sequential declines;

For June, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI came in at 0.3.

Total shipments, at 1,901,058, were up 5.0% sequentially, and 3.5% annually, growing for the first time in eight quarters.

The van TVI, at 273, topping June’s 266 reading, and up almost 10% annually and down 6% compared to an all-time high reading of 289 set in May.

A series of factors will likely contribute to keeping freight rates in check this year.

For January, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading came in at 3.3, marking a 3% decline December’s 6.4 reading and also below November’s 6.3. October had topped September's 4.3 by 2%, with FTR saying at the time reflected the most favorable market conditions for shippers since June 2023.