Total load activity rebounded 6.1% after declining for the past three weeks. As was the case with rates, flatbed was solely responsible for the gain. Total volume was 4% below the same 2023 week and almost 34% below the five-year average. Truck postings ticked up 0.5%, and the total Market Demand Index – the ratio of loads to trucks – increased to its highest level in four weeks.
The total broker-posted rate increased nearly 4 cents after decreasing 3 cents in the prior week. Rates were nearly 6% below the same 2023 week and almost 5% below the five-year average. Aside from the weather-related strength in mid-January, total market rates have been relatively stable this year. The total market rate in the latest week was about 2 cents higher than in the first week of this year.
Dry van spot rates eased 1.5 cents after falling more than 10 cents during the previous week. Rates were nearly 3% below the same week last year and almost 11% below the five-year average. Dry van loads declined 1.6% after dropping nearly 15% during the prior week. Volume was about 15% below the same 2023 week and about 43% below the five-year average for the week.
Refrigerated spot rates fell 4.5 cents after dropping more than 8 cents during the prior week. Rates were nearly 4% below the same 2023 week and more than 11% below the five-year average. Refrigerated loads decreased 6.7% after falling nearly 11% during the previous week. Volume was about 8% below the same week last year and nearly 44% below the five-year average.
Flatbed spot rates rose 5.4 cents after declining more than 2 cents in the previous week. Rates were about 7% below the same week last year and about 3% below the five-year average. Flatbed loads jumped about 15% after rising more than 8% during the prior week. Volume was about 7% above the same 2023 week and more than 28% below the five-year average for the week.