Total load activity declined 4.2% after surging more than 77% in the previous week. Volume was more than 8% higher than during the same 2024 week but almost 24% below the five-year average for the week. Total truck postings rose 8.6%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of load postings to truck postings in the system – declined after hitting its highest level since June 2022 during the previous week.
The total market broker-posted spot rate decreased 3.4 cents after easing about 1 cent during the previous week. Rates were down 1.3% from the same 2024 week – only the second negative y/y comparison in seven weeks – and were nearly 8% below the five-year average for the week as was the case in the prior week. Rates excluding a calculated surcharge were up 0.4% y/y for the weakest comparison since July. The current week (week 3) typically sees declining dry van and refrigerated spot rates, but weather effects could push up rates. Even so, rates might not be that strong y/y as week 3 last year also saw sharply higher spot rates due to weather.
Dry van spot rates fell 7.4 cents after rising about 16 cents in the previous four weeks. Rates were more than 2% higher than during the same 2024 week but were nearly 9% below the five-year average for the week. Rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were up more than 5% y/y. Dry van loads decreased 6.3%. Volume was close to 3% above the same 2024 week but nearly 30% below the five-year average.
Refrigerated spot rates fell 15.4 cents after soaring nearly 40 cents during the prior four weeks. Rates were 1.4% higher than in the same 2024 week but were close to 7% below the five-year average for the week. Rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were up 3.5% y/y. Refrigerated loads decreased 21.3%. Volume was more than 7% below the same 2024 week and more than 31% below the five-year average.
Flatbed spot rates increased 3 cents – their largest gain since October – after rising just over 2 cents in the previous week. Rates were more than 2% below the same 2024 week and more than 7% below the five-year average for the week. Rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were down nearly 1% y/y for the first negative prior-year comparison since July. Flatbed loads increased 3.2% after surging nearly 125% in the previous week. Volume, which was at its highest level since October, was about 21% above the same 2024 week but more than 20% below the five-year average.