BEAVERTON, Ore.–( BUSINESS WIRE )– Demand for trucks in the spot market rose in December, indicating strong retail and grocery sales ahead of the holidays, said DAT Freight & Analytics, which operates the DAT freight market. One” and “DAT iQ” data analytics service.
The Truck and Refrigerated Truck Tonnage Volume Index (TVI) increased modestly compared to November:
- From TVI: 260, up 2.4%
- Refrigerated TVI: 220, up 3%
- Flat TVI: 237, down 5%
Year over year, truck and refrigerated TVI were up 12% and 20%, respectively, and flatbed TVI was 7% higher.
December shipping volumes were strong despite calendar quirks, said Ken Adamo, head of analytics at DAT, noting that Christmas fell on a Wednesday and there were only three non-holiday weeks between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. The combination of seasonal volumes, fewer shipping days, and truck drivers taking time off for the holidays has led to higher spot prices compared to November. Net of fuel, the truck rate was the highest monthly average since January 2023.
Truckload rates have shifted higher
National average spot prices rose for all three types of equipment:
- Van Spot: $2.11 per mile ($1.74 net fuel), up 9 cents from November
- Instant coolant: $2.47 ($2.06 net fuel), up 2 cents
- Flat spot: $2.39 ($1.94 net fuel), up 2 cents
Average truck and flatbed contract prices rose nationally last month:
- Truck contract price: $2.42 per mile, up 2 cents
- Cooled contract price: $2.74 per mile, unchanged
- Flat contract price: $3.06 per mile, up 3 cents
Adamu said the difference between truck and refrigerated spot prices and contract prices narrowed for the fourth consecutive month and was the smallest since March 2022, when spot prices entered a period of severe deflation. When the gap between spot contract prices and long-term contract prices trend downward, it is a signal that capacity is tightening and negotiating power is shifting toward truckload carriers.
About DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT truckload volume index reflects the change in the number of loads with the date of receipt during that month. The baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, as recorded in DAT RateView, a truckload pricing database and analysis tool with rates paid on an average of 3 million monthly loads.
Standard DAT spot rates are derived from invoice data for transfers of 250 miles or more with a pickup date within the month reported. Linehaul prices subtract an amount equal to the average fuel surcharge.
About DAT Shipping and Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates the largest truckload freight marketplace and truckload freight data analytics service in North America. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights based on more than 400 million annual freight matches and a database of $150 billion in annual freight market transactions.
Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: NASDAQ:), a Fortune 1000 company. DAT is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. Visit dat.com for more information
View source version on Businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250121790828/en/
contact dat
Georgia Jablon
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Source: DAT Shipping and Analytics
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