Capacity is slowly returning to the spot market judging by a generally growing number of truck posts on DAT load boards, the company says, but trucks are still showing as in short supply in many parts of the country. That’s kept rates high.
Dry van volumes were about the same last week as the week before, but rates moved higher on 64 of the top 100 lanes. That could be because there are fewer alternatives for shippers. Contract rates are about 20 percent higher than a year ago, and rail intermodal has experienced crowded terminals and a shortage in drayage capacity.Hot van markets: Los Angeles regained the top spot for freight volumes over Dallas last week. Demand is strong across California, which also boosted the Stockton market. Rates climbed out of the Southeast, with the lane from Atlanta to Chicago jumping 21 cents to an average of $3.72 per mile. That’s higher than the average price paid on the Chicago to Atlanta direction, typically the better paying of the two.
Not so hot: There weren’t many big drops on a lane-by-lane basis. Memphis to Indianapolis fell 19 cents to an average of $2.97 per mile. Houston to New Orleans has been a hot lane as of late. It fell 15 cents last week, but still averages $3.17 per mile.
Flatbed volumes in June so far have been 32 percent higher on the top 78 flatbed lanes than they were a year ago; rates in those lanes are 26 percent higher than last year at this time.Hot flatbed markets: Out West, both Las Vegas and Phoenix were hot spots for flatbeds last week, as were the Southeast markets of Raleigh and Greensboro in North Carolina and Roanoke, Va. The lane from Las Vegas to Phoenix exploded, with the average rate hitting $4.53 per mile.
Not so hot: There were drops on a few lanes, but even with the declines, rates remained above $3 per mile on average in many areas. For example, Atlanta to Baltimore tumbled, but the average price was still $3.38 per mile.
Volumes on the top reefer lanes were up slightly last week, but one can expect a bigger week this week as refrigerated goods move to store shelves in time for the Fourth of July.Hot reefer markets: Georgia and the Carolinas continue to strengthen, as harvests move north of Florida. Out west, the volume shift from Texas to California is still underway. Los Angeles remains strong, and Fresno, Calif., is moving into peak season.
Not so hot: Reefer volumes in the border towns of Nogales, Ariz., and McAllen, Texas, trailed off last week. The lane from Nogales to Chicago fell 32 cents to an average of $2.61 per mile.
