Capacity is slowly returning to the spot market judging by a generally growing number of truck posts on DAT load boards, the company says, but trucks are still showing as in short supply in many parts of the country. That’s kept rates high.
Hot van markets: Los Angeles regained the top spot for freight volumes over Dallas last week. Demand is strong across California, which also boosted the Stockton market. Rates climbed out of the Southeast, with the lane from Atlanta to Chicago jumping 21 cents to an average of $3.72 per mile. That’s higher than the average price paid on the Chicago to Atlanta direction, typically the better paying of the two.
Not so hot: There weren’t many big drops on a lane-by-lane basis. Memphis to Indianapolis fell 19 cents to an average of $2.97 per mile. Houston to New Orleans has been a hot lane as of late. It fell 15 cents last week, but still averages $3.17 per mile.
Hot flatbed markets: Out West, both Las Vegas and Phoenix were hot spots for flatbeds last week, as were the Southeast markets of Raleigh and Greensboro in North Carolina and Roanoke, Va. The lane from Las Vegas to Phoenix exploded, with the average rate hitting $4.53 per mile.
Not so hot: There were drops on a few lanes, but even with the declines, rates remained above $3 per mile on average in many areas. For example, Atlanta to Baltimore tumbled, but the average price was still $3.38 per mile.
Hot reefer markets: Georgia and the Carolinas continue to strengthen, as harvests move north of Florida. Out west, the volume shift from Texas to California is still underway. Los Angeles remains strong, and Fresno, Calif., is moving into peak season.
Not so hot: Reefer volumes in the border towns of Nogales, Ariz., and McAllen, Texas, trailed off last week. The lane from Nogales to Chicago fell 32 cents to an average of $2.61 per mile.
