Normally there’s a lull after the end of Q1, with the rush to get freight pushed out the door before month’s end now in the rearview. The drop in demand typically leads to lower rates in early April, but that wasn’t the case for the week ending April 7. National average spot rates jumped up compared to the March averages.
- Van: $2.24/mile, up 9¢ from March
- Flatbed: $2.63/mile, up 10¢
- Reefer: $2.48/mile, an 8¢ gain
The number of trucks posted fell 2.7% last week. It’s hard to say exactly what caused capacity to tighten, but April 1 marked another ELD deadline. This time it was the end of “soft enforcement” for infractions, meaning that trucks can now be placed out of service for not having an ELD installed.
All rates below include fuel surcharges and are based on real transactions between brokers and carriers.
HOT MARKETS
Rates rose in Columbus, OH, perhaps a reaction to ongoing snowfall in Chicago that could be slowing shipping out of that market.
Regional van lanes to watch:
- Buffalo to Charlotte, up 20¢ to $2.69/mile
- Columbus to Chicago, up 19¢ to $2.40/mile
- Memphis to Indianapolis, up 17¢ to $2.73/mile
NOT SO HOT
Rates edged down out of Chicago on lower volumes, as weather continued to hamper shipments.
Find loads, trucks and lane-by-lane rate information in DAT load boards, including rates from DAT RateView.
