Freight availability on the DAT load boards set a new record in June, the firm reported in its monthly DAT North American Freight Index, with freight demand climbing 9.3 percent from May. Compared to the same month last year, freight demand was up 18 percent, DAT reported.
Swelling demand, combined with the industry’s lingering capacity shortfall, pushed rates to record levels on the spot market, DAT reported, including a record for consecutive months with rate hikes. “June capped an unprecedented 15-month run of spot market rate increases, the longest sustained period of pricing power for truckers since deregulation,” said Mark Montague, a DAT pricing analyst.
Compared to June 2017, spot van rates grew 52 cents per mile, reefer rates climbed 58 cents and flatbeds rose 65 cents, DAT reported.
