On the spot market in September, TransCore saw reefer rates rebound to $1.53/mile from a $1.50 August average. For line haul, rates slipped by $0.02 in the first ten days of October. Fuel surcharges added an average of $0.32 per mile for both vans and reefers. For the record, TransCore's spot market rates comprise brokers' and 3PLs' payments to carriers based on actual, weekly invoices.

Rates for dry vans remained steady at $1.28 per mile on the spot market in September, and declined by a penny in October to-date. Average flatbed rates have been declining gradually from June's high of $1.63 to an average of $1.56 in September. The beginning of October saw spot market rates recede by another $0.02 to $1.54 for flatbed line haul.

Comparing spot market and contract rates, in August, when the national average flatbed rate was $1.57 for brokers, flatbed carriers on contract hauls got $1.65, plus a fuel surcharge of $0.34. 

Contract rates for reefers moved up to $1.52 in August, but were not expected to increase in September. Contract rates are typically paid directly by the shipper to the carrier, with no broker or other intermediary and are calculated monthly.

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