For the second straight month, spot market rates dipped somewhat significantly in all three segments, according to the January report from load board Internet Truckstop. November saw a major spike, more than likely coming from a big push from retail shopping before Christmas, and then rates all dropped to nearly the same point they were in October in December.
True to recent form, though, flatbed rates have mostly remained flat, as its January rate dipped only two cents per mile to $1.94. Reefer dropped 10 cents to $1.98 , while dry van dropped 11 cents to $1.70 per mile.
These rates, however, are still well above January of 2012, when flatbed rates were $1.91, reefer rates were $1.80 and dry van rates were $1.60.
In recent years, rate trends have been similar — spiking in November, falling in December and January and then beginning a climb heading into spring and summer.
Here’s a graph of rates from May 2010 to now:
