Compared to December 2012, freight volume increased 45 percent for the month and the continued, atypical demand set a sixth consecutive record for same-month freight volume, with the highest level for any December since the DAT Index began in 1996.

Load availability in December rose 19 percent for vans, 14 percent for refrigerated ("reefer") trailers, and 1.0 percent for flatbeds compared to the prior month. Year-over-year, van freight volume increased 41 percent, reefer loads added 65 percent, and flatbed freight increased 43 percent.

Rates in the spot market rose 5.0 percent for vans to a monthly average of $1.95 per mile, the highest observed figure since DAT began publishing spot market rates in 2009.

Reefer and flatbed rates increased 3.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, month-over-month. Compared to December 2012, rates rose 15% percent for vans, 6.7 percent for reefers, and 7.8 percent for flatbeds.

Reference rates are derived from DAT RateView. Rates are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which increased on a month-over-month basis but declined compared to December 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.

DAT, a unit of TransCore, is a freight marketplace platform and information provider.

Source: DAT