Truck postings fell 16.2%, which is the largest decline since truck capacity plunged 26.2% in February in the wake of extreme winter weather throughout much of the U.S. With both volume and capacity falling sharply, the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks in the Truckstop.com system – was little changed from the prior week. However, in flatbed the decline in truck postings outpaced the drop in load postings, so the MDI moved a bit higher.
Dry van load postings fell 20.9% after easing 1.0% during the prior week. Dry van volume was about 22% above the same 2020 week, which is the tightest year-over-year comparison in more than a year. Volume was about 136% above the five-year average for the week.
Refrigerated load volume dropped 30.2% from the prior week’s record level. Volume was about 49% higher than the same week last year and about 147% above the five-year average. The latest week was the first since early July that refrigerated volume was not higher than it was during the previous week.
Flatbed load postings fell 13.9% after an 8.9% decrease during the prior week. Flatbed load volume was the lowest since the final week of 2020. Volume was 26% higher than the same week last year and 159% higher than the five-year average.
The broker-posted rate per mile excluding fuel surcharges declined more than 3 cents but was about 19% higher than the same 2020 week. Although dry van and flatbed rates were down, refrigerated rates were up about 4 cents to another record and were 26% higher than the same week last year. Dry van rates declined just 1 cent and were about 14% above the same week last year. Flatbed rates were down nearly 5 cents but were up about 20% over the same 2020 week.