Dec 17 – 23 – The ELD mandate went into effect last week, just as last-minute orders were on the move before Christmas. Many truckers also took time off before the holiday, so spot market capacity tightened and load-to-truck ratios surged, setting a new all-time record-high ratio for vans: 10.1 loads per truck. Spot rates also came close to historic highs: The national average van rate rose 1¢ per mile, the national reefer rate jumped up 4¢, and the average flatbed rate increased 1¢.

National average spot market rates for the past four weeks, including fuel surcharges. Weekly rate snapshots reflect averages for the month to-date, from DAT RateView.

Dec 10 – 16 – Last week the national average van rate stepped back 2¢ to $2.08 per mile, but that was from a 3-year high experienced the week before. Reefer rates moved down 4¢ to $2.36 per mile, after hitting 3-year highs during Thanksgiving week. Flatbed prices increased 1¢, to $2.32 per mile.

National average spot market rates for the past four weeks, including fuel surcharges. Weekly rate snapshots reflect averages for the month to-date, from DAT RateView.

Dec 3 – 9 – Van rates, which rose prior to Thanksgiving, just keep moving higher. Last week the national average van rate increased 1¢ to $2.10 per mile—a 3-year high. Flatbed rates also increased 1¢, to $2.31 per mile. For reefers, we may be experiencing a lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as rates declined 3¢ from their record high the week before.

National average spot market rates for the past four weeks, including fuel surcharges. Weekly rate snapshots reflect averages for the month to-date, from DAT RateView.

Nov 26 – Dec 2 – Freight volumes surged in the week following Thanksgiving, sending van rates up 2¢ to $2.09 per mile and flatbed rates up 1¢ to $2.30 per mile. Reefer rates held steady at an unseasonably high $2.43 per mile. November’s monthly average rate for both vans and reefers hit levels not seen since June of 2014.

National average spot market rates for the past four weeks, including fuel surcharges. Weekly rate snapshots reflect averages for the month to-date, from DAT RateView.