Refrigerated Truckload Rates Fell in March

Spot truckload rates continued to slide in March as demand for trucking services moved toward typical seasonal levels, reported DAT Freight & Analytics.

“The decline in van and reefer spot rates coincided with the demand for truckload services picking up marginally toward the end of the month,” says Ken Adamo, chief of analytics, DAT Freight & Analytics. “There were no big swings or signs that spot-market volumes or capacity will change beyond what we expect from produce, construction materials, and summer retail goods starting to move.”

Key takeaways:

• The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), an indicator of loads moved in a month, increased modestly for all three equipment types compared to February: Van TVI 260, up 4%; refrigerated TVI 200, up 2.6%; and flatbed TVI 242, up 4.4%.
• Volumes typically increase from February to March, which had two more shipping days this year.
• The van rate averaged $2.01 per mile, down 6 cents compared to February and 15 cents lower year over year. The reefer rate fell 8 cents to $2.35 a mile, down 15 cents year over year. And, the flatbed rate rose 1 cent to $2.50 a mile, down 21 cents year over year.
• The DAT iQ benchmark contract van and reefer rates dipped 3 cents to $2.48 and $2.86 a mile, respectively. The flatbed rate gained 4 cents to $3.18.
• The margin between spot and contract rates increased for all three equipment types. It was 47 cents for van freight, 51 cents for reefers, and 68 cents for flatbeds. A lower spread typically indicates more pricing power for motor carriers.