Spot market rates settle after historic spring and summer

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(Rates data from Truckstop.com)(Rates data from Truckstop.com)

Rates on the spot market continued to ease in September after their historic run-up in the first half of the year, according to Truckstop.com, with per-mile reefer and dry van rates slipping some in the month. Flatbed rates, however, held strong.

The dips for reefer and dry van are part of seasonal trends, with rates usually dipping some in late summer. However, they’re also coming down from the record highs brought on by record-tight capacity, which has eased some of late.

Per-mile spot market flatbed rates gained 2 cents in September from August, according to Truckstop.com’s data. At $2.72 a mile, flatbed’s national average was 30 cents stronger than the same month last year.

Reefer’s national average per-mile rate slipped 18 cents to $2.58 — also a 30-cent gain from September 2017.

Lastly, dry van rates fell 10 cents from August to a $2.37-a-mile national average. Compared to September 2017, van rates were up 17 cents.

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