Rates Stay Firm, Load Patterns Uneven, DAT Says

Load board operator DAT Solutions said freight rates remained firm during the week ended Aug. 22, while freight trends on the spot market remained uneven.

Rates for refrigerated loads stayed at $2.04 per mile, and flatbed rates remained at $2.07 per mile, while van rates slipped 1 cent to $1.76, the Portland, Oregon-based company reported, compared with the prior seven-day period.

The weekly report also tracks freight volumes, loads made available by shippers and trucks made available by fleets and drivers.

Refrigerated load volume increased 4.1%.

Van market loads made available declined 2.6%. There continue to be 1.8 van loads offered per truck.

Among flatbed carriers, loads being offered in that sector fell 13%.

“While it’s typical for spot market rates to increase when load posts are up — and load available has been up in recent weeks — truck posts have also been on the rise,” the report said. “With the cost of diesel low, there are more trucks on the road, which typically leads to looser truckload capacity and less pressure on rates.”