Spot rates hold steady to start 2020

Updated Feb 6, 2020
Rates data from Truckstop.com represents per-mile national averages. (Graphic by Kenneth Stubbs.)Rates data from Truckstop.com represents per-mile national averages. (Graphic by Kenneth Stubbs.)

Per-mile rates on the spot market continued to hum along in January, according to data from Truckstop.com, which compiles rates data from its broker-carrier transactions.

Though rates data was unavailable for December, data for January shows that the three main truckload segments — reefer, flatbed and dry van  — held firm compared to recent months, but were shy of the strong showings in January 2018 and January 2019. Rates fell off through the first part of 2019 but have since stabilized.

Flatbed’s national per-mile average was $2.38 — up 5 cents from November, but down 2 cents from January 2019 and 6 cents from January 2018. Flatbed rates, generally the least volatile, have remained between an average of $2.35 a mile and $2.43 a mile since November 2018.

Reefer rates, meanwhile, averaged $2.36 in January. That’s a 4-cent gain from November, but a 17-cent dip from January 2019 and a 44-cent dip from January 2018.

Dry van rates in January averaged $2.10 per mile — a 3-cent decline from November. Likewise, van rates were down 16 cents from January 2019 and 44 cents from January 2018.

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