Spot market freight availability as measured by the DAT North American Freight Index has run high since July 2013 due to factors including extraordinary weather events, regulatory changes and driver shortages. May 2014 extends the trend, becoming the eleventh consecutive month to post a year-over-year record high, a 40 percent increase over last May. Month over month, however, May freight volumes declined 2.1 percent compared to April.

After a summer of strong, steady activity, spot market truckload freight volume showed a seasonal decline, dipping 5.3 percent in September compared to August, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.

Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose 0.4 percent in August compared to July. Freight typically peaks on the spot market in June, but this year the robust volumes continued through the entire summer.

Spot market freight volumes reported by the DAT North American Freight Index rose 2.2 percent in June, compared to May. The month-over-month increase fell slightly short of seasonal norms; while freight volume increased from May to June in eight of the past ten years, the average increase was 10 percent.