Total spot volume jumped 27.3%. Volume was 52% below the same 2022 week and nearly 13% below the five-year average for the week. Load activity was up sharply in all regions, led by the Midwest. Truck availability rose by 16.6% after the large drop during the holidays, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – rose to its highest level since June.
The total broker-posted spot market rate fell nearly 13 cents. Rates were almost 18% below the same 2022 week but nearly 6% above the five-year average for the week. FTR estimates that rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were more than 26% below the 2022 week.
Dry van spot rates declined nearly 5 cents after rising more than 24 cents in the final two weeks of 2022. Rates were about 22% below the same 2022 week and more than 1% above the five-year average for the week. Dry van rates excluding a fuel surcharge were 32% lower than in the same 2022 week. Dry van loads rose 30%. Volume was about 50% below the same 2022 week and about 3% below the five-year average for the week.
Refrigerated spot rates fell nearly 19 cents after surging more than 67 cents in the final two weeks of 2022. Rates were nearly 23% below the same 2022 week but 6% above the five-year average for the week. Rates excluding fuel surcharges were about 30% below the same 2022 week. Refrigerated loads surged and declined 4% after rising for three straight weeks. Volume was 53% below the same 2022 week and about 4% below the five-year average for the week.
Flatbed spot rates declined more than 7 cents. Rates were about 12% below the same 2022 week but nearly 9% above the five-year average for the week. Excluding an imputed surcharge, flatbed rates were about 21% below the same week last year. Flatbed loads surged nearly 56% to the highest level since early November. Volume was more than 58% below the same 2022 week and nearly 32% below the five-year average for the week.