National average rates for van, refrigerated and flatbed trucking entered August near their high marks for the year, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT One load board network. For the week ending Aug. 2, shippers and brokers posted 8.6% more loads in the aggregate to the load boards, while truck posts fell again 8%, a typical indicator of improving conditions for load availability.
National average spot rates, July full month
**Van: $2.04 per mile, up 24 cents compared to June
**Flatbed: $2.20 per mile, up 13 cents
**Reefer: $2.30 per mile, up 15 cents
The average spot van rate last month was 10.6% higher compared to July 2019. Van and reefer rates entered August much higher than their July averages at $2.20 a mile for vans and $2.42 for reefers.
Trends to watch
Rates rise on high-volume van lanes: Average spot van rates increased on 55 of DAT’s top 100 lanes by volume compared to the previous week. Volumes on those 100 lanes were only 2% higher week over week, however.
Retail freight keeps DCs busy: Load volumes out of the top 10 fulfillment warehouse markets rose 25% last month as a surge of imports for home improvement and other stay-at-home goods flows through supply chains. This was especially prevalent at Midwest distribution hubs like Joliet, Illinois, and Indianapolis. At the lane level, spot van rates from Memphis to Atlanta increased 10 cents to an average of $3.11 per mile last week. That’s up 55 cents over the past two weeks.
Storm warnings: Isaias is a reminder of spot market dynamics ahead of, during and after a major storm. Last week more loads moved out of Florida than normal, with van volume out of Lakeland up 20% compared to the week before. The Atlantic hurricane season is off to a fast start, with Isaias being the earliest ninth named storm on record.
Produce preferences: The pandemic is affecting demand for specific types of produce. High volumes of citrus fruits and leafy greens led to tighter capacity in Southern California, especially in the Salinas Valley. Produce volumes for the entire state were up 53% in July compared to June, but the struggling restaurant and food-service industries continue to drive uncertainty there as well.
