Truck postings fell nearly 8%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks in the Truckstop.com system – jumped to its strongest level since late June. However, the MDI varied greatly by segment. While flatbed was only incrementally stronger than the prior week, the refrigerated MDI surged to its highest level on record by an enormous margin. The dry van MDI rose to the third strongest level on record.
Total spot rates were about 19% higher than the same 2020 week. Rates excluding fuel did not quite match the May record but were nearly 14% higher year over year. Total dry van and refrigerated rates both set records during the week. Dry van rates rose nearly 15 cents and were about 11% higher than the same 2020 week. Refrigerated rates jumped 31 cents and were nearly 29% higher year over year. Both the dry van and refrigerated segments also set record for rates excluding fuel. Flatbed rates barely moved, easing just a tenth of a cent, and were nearly 15% higher than the same 2020 week.
Dry van load postings rose 18.3% after falling 27.3% during the previous week. Dry van volume was about 41% higher than the same week last year and nearly triple the five-year average (2015-2019) for the week.
Refrigerated volume jumped 33.1% to a record level, surpassing the prior record in week 35 by nearly 9%. Refrigerated volume was about 89% higher than the same 2020 week and more than triple the five-year average.
Flatbed load postings declined 3.3% after falling 31.2% during the previous week. Flatbed load postings were about 28% higher than the same week last year and about 177% above the five-year average.