Percent Change: -0.3%

Fuel Price: $3.04 /gallon

Rates climb before and after Christmas

National Spot Rates: Van, Flatbed, Reefer

Retailers replenish inventories, while snow delays year-end shipments

Dec 23 – 29 – Rates rose during the short holiday week, as spot market activity dropped off for two days, beginning early on Christmas Eve. Surprisingly, load-to-truck ratios shot up higher for all equipment types at the end of the holiday week, due to a combination of retail returns, snowstorms in the Midwest, and a year-end rush by shippers who want to close their books on a high note.

For more info on lane rates, read the Rate Trend of the Week on the DAT blog.

Trendlines shows a weekly snapshot of the month-to-date for national average rates from DAT RateView. National average spot market rates for the past four months, including fuel surcharges, are shown in the three graphs, above.

Get Trendlines updates

Fuel Prices

Percent Change: -0.7%

Fuel Price: $3.05 /gallon

Holiday freight keeps trucks busy

National Spot Rates: Van, Flatbed, Reefer

Van rates remain at 11-month high

Dec 9-15 – Trucks are keeping busy in these final weeks before the holidays. Van freight volumes were up more than 25% last week and van rates are at an 11-month high. Reefer volumes have cooled slightly since Thanksgiving but reefer rates are at their highest point since June.

For more info, read the Rate Trend of the Week.

Trendlines shows a weekly snapshot of the month-to-date for national average rates from DAT RateView. National average spot market rates for the past four months, including fuel surcharges, are shown in the three graphs, above.

Get Trendlines updates