Month-over-month, load availability increased 3.1 percent for vans and 3.8 percent for refrigerated trailers while flatbed load availability experienced a typical seasonal decline of 5.1 percent. Spot market rates remained stable for vans in August; in line with seasonal norms, rates declined 3.0 percent for reefers and 1.8 percent for flatbeds.
On a year-over-year basis, freight availability increased 13 percent for the month. Van freight volume rose 10 percent, reefer loads increased 22 percent, and flatbed freight gained 14 percent compared to August 2012. Van rates rose 2.3 percent and reefer rates gained 1.9 percent while flatbed rates declined 4.6 percent compared to the unusually high rates of August 2012.

Reference rates are derived from DAT RateView. Rates are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which rose in August on a month-over-month basis, but declined compared to August 2012. The monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the TransCore DAT network of load boards in the United States and Canada.

Source: DAT