Spot market index in February down year-over-year

TransCore’s DAT North American Freight Index was up 24 percent in February from January, but declined 5.2 percent compared with February 2011 when the spot market recorded unseasonably strong freight volumes.

In seven of the last 10 years, February month-over-month freight volume increases averaged 21 percent.

Truckload freight rates followed seasonal patterns on the spot market for February, which is typically a slow month. For dry vans, rates slipped 4.5 percent from January. Flatbed rates dipped 0.6 percent, and rates for refrigerated vans declined 2.1 percent month-over-month.

Compared with February 2011, rates were unchanged for vans, while flatbed rates increased 1.3 percent and reefer rates declined 2.1 percent. These rates are derived from the company’s DAT Truckload Rate Index and do not include fuel surcharges. Spot market rates are paid by brokers and third-party logistics providers to the carrier.

TransCore’s monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the company’s network of load boards in the United States and Canada.