Truckload Volume Index

DAT said that the number of available loads on the spot market headed up over the last week of August, due to the pairing of a national brake-inspection campaign and the lead-up to Labor Day weekend tightening capacity. It also noted that August freight volumes were softer than usual, especially for van loads, coupled with the Van TVI turning in its lowest reading for the month of August since 2021.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Following the beginning of what it called the start of a new truckload cycle arriving in September, in the form of increasing spot truckload volumes and rates, the new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index, which was recently issued by DAT Freight and Analytics, pointed to further inroads being made in October.

DAT's Ken Adamo notes September showed the spot truckload market is firmly into a new freight cycle after nearly 22 months of rather extreme expansion and 27 months of contraction.

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;

The van TVI, at 289, was up 4% compared to April and up 13% annually, hitting a new all-time high, and the refrigerated TVI, at 224, up 4% compared to April and up 25% annually, also hitting a new all-time high.

The van TVI, at 245, down 4% compared to January, with the reefer TVI, at 193, down 4% compared to January, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, increased 3% compared to January.

The new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which was recently issued by DAT Freight & Analytics, noted that spot freight volumes rose to all-time highs, for the month of January, driven by what it described as a weather-related bump in demand for truckload capacity.

The November edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which was recently issued by DAT Freight & Analytics, showed a solid post-Thanksgiving bump in truckload freight volumes compared to previous Novembers.  

DAT reported that the van TVI was up 3.5% compared to September, at 263, and up 9.5% annually, with the reefer TVI up 4.3% compared to September, at 196 and up 9.0% annually, and the flatbed TVI was down 3.2% compared to September, at 245, and up 0.5% annually.

Seasonal trends impacted lower spot market volumes and rates in the September edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index.