DAT: Spot truckload volumes declined, rates fell sharply in February
DAT Freight & Analytics reports a significant decline in spot truckload freight volumes and rates during February 2024. The DAT Truckload Volume Index showed decreases in van (-8.5%) and reefer (-11.3%) segments, while flatbed saw a slight increase (0.4%) compared to January.
Spot market rates dropped considerably: vans decreased to $2.04/mile (-11¢), reefers to $2.36/mile (-18¢), while flatbed rates increased slightly to $2.45/mile (+1¢). Contract rates remained relatively stable with vans at $2.43/mile (-1¢), reefers at $2.75/mile (unchanged), and flatbed at $3.05/mile (-2¢).
The spread between contract and spot rates widened significantly for vans (+10¢ to 39¢) and reefers (+18¢ to 39¢), indicating a shift in pricing power toward shippers and brokers. The decline is attributed to seasonal factors, winter weather, and economic uncertainty.
DAT Freight & Analytics riporta un significativo calo nei volumi e nelle tariffe del trasporto merci spot durante febbraio 2024. L'indice dei volumi di carico DAT ha mostrato diminuzioni nei segmenti van (-8,5%) e reefer (-11,3%), mentre il flatbed ha registrato un leggero aumento (0,4%) rispetto a gennaio.
Le tariffe del mercato spot sono diminuite considerevolmente: i van sono scesi a $2,04/miglia (-11¢), i reefer a $2,36/miglia (-18¢), mentre le tariffe del flatbed sono aumentate leggermente a $2,45/miglia (+1¢). Le tariffe contrattuali sono rimaste relativamente stabili con i van a $2,43/miglia (-1¢), i reefer a $2,75/miglia (immutati) e il flatbed a $3,05/miglia (-2¢).
Il divario tra le tariffe contrattuali e quelle spot è aumentato significativamente per i van (+10¢ a 39¢) e i reefer (+18¢ a 39¢), indicando un cambiamento nel potere di determinazione dei prezzi a favore dei caricatori e dei broker. Il calo è attribuito a fattori stagionali, condizioni climatiche invernali e incertezze economiche.
DAT Freight & Analytics informa sobre una disminución significativa en los volúmenes y tarifas de carga de camiones spot durante febrero de 2024. El índice de volumen de carga de DAT mostró disminuciones en los segmentos de furgonetas (-8.5%) y refrigerados (-11.3%), mientras que el flatbed experimentó un ligero aumento (0.4%) en comparación con enero.
Las tarifas del mercado spot cayeron considerablemente: las furgonetas disminuyeron a $2.04/milla (-11¢), los refrigerados a $2.36/milla (-18¢), mientras que las tarifas del flatbed aumentaron ligeramente a $2.45/milla (+1¢). Las tarifas contractuales se mantuvieron relativamente estables, con las furgonetas a $2.43/milla (-1¢), los refrigerados a $2.75/milla (sin cambios) y el flatbed a $3.05/milla (-2¢).
La diferencia entre las tarifas contractuales y las tarifas spot se amplió significativamente para las furgonetas (+10¢ a 39¢) y los refrigerados (+18¢ a 39¢), lo que indica un cambio en el poder de fijación de precios hacia los cargadores y corredores. La disminución se atribuye a factores estacionales, condiciones climáticas invernales e incertidumbre económica.
DAT Freight & Analytics는 2024년 2월 동안 스팟 트럭 화물량과 요금이 크게 감소했다고 보고했습니다. DAT 트럭 화물량 지수는 밴(-8.5%)과 리퍼(-11.3%) 부문에서 감소를 보였고, 플랫베드는 1월 대비 약간 증가했습니다(0.4%).
스팟 시장 요금은 상당히 하락했습니다: 밴은 $2.04/마일(-11¢), 리퍼는 $2.36/마일(-18¢)로 감소했으며, 플랫베드 요금은 약간 증가하여 $2.45/마일(+1¢)에 도달했습니다. 계약 요금은 밴이 $2.43/마일(-1¢), 리퍼가 $2.75/마일(변동 없음), 플랫베드가 $3.05/마일(-2¢)로 상대적으로 안정세를 유지했습니다.
계약 요금과 스팟 요금 간의 차이는 밴(+10¢에서 39¢로)과 리퍼(+18¢에서 39¢로)에서 크게 확대되어, 화주와 중개인에게 가격 결정 권한이 이동하고 있음을 나타냅니다. 이러한 감소는 계절적 요인, 겨울 날씨, 경제적 불확실성에 기인합니다.
DAT Freight & Analytics rapporte une diminution significative des volumes et des tarifs de fret spot pour les camions en février 2024. L'indice de volume de fret DAT a montré des baisses dans les segments des fourgons (-8,5 %) et des réfrigérés (-11,3 %), tandis que le flatbed a connu une légère augmentation (0,4 %) par rapport à janvier.
Les tarifs du marché spot ont considérablement chuté : les fourgons sont passés à 2,04 $/mile (-11¢), les réfrigérés à 2,36 $/mile (-18¢), tandis que les tarifs du flatbed ont légèrement augmenté à 2,45 $/mile (+1¢). Les tarifs contractuels sont restés relativement stables, avec les fourgons à 2,43 $/mile (-1¢), les réfrigérés à 2,75 $/mile (inchangés) et le flatbed à 3,05 $/mile (-2¢).
L'écart entre les tarifs contractuels et spot s'est considérablement élargi pour les fourgons (+10¢ à 39¢) et les réfrigérés (+18¢ à 39¢), indiquant un changement de pouvoir de fixation des prix en faveur des expéditeurs et des courtiers. La baisse est attribuée à des facteurs saisonniers, aux conditions climatiques hivernales et à l'incertitude économique.
DAT Freight & Analytics berichtet von einem signifikanten Rückgang der Spot-Truckload-Frachtvolumina und -tarife im Februar 2024. Der DAT Truckload Volumenindex zeigte Rückgänge in den Segmenten Van (-8,5%) und Reefer (-11,3%), während das Flatbed im Vergleich zu Januar einen leichten Anstieg (0,4%) verzeichnete.
Die Spotmarktpreise sind erheblich gesunken: Vans fielen auf $2,04/Mile (-11¢), Reefer auf $2,36/Mile (-18¢), während die Flatbed-Tarife leicht auf $2,45/Mile (+1¢) stiegen. Die Vertragstarife blieben relativ stabil mit Vans bei $2,43/Mile (-1¢), Reefern bei $2,75/Mile (unverändert) und Flatbed bei $3,05/Mile (-2¢).
Die Differenz zwischen Vertrags- und Spottarifen hat sich für Vans (+10¢ auf 39¢) und Reefer (+18¢ auf 39¢) erheblich vergrößert, was auf eine Verschiebung der Preismacht zugunsten von Versendern und Brokern hinweist. Der Rückgang wird auf saisonale Faktoren, winterliche Witterung und wirtschaftliche Unsicherheit zurückgeführt.
- Year-over-year volume growth across all segments (Van +5%, Reefer +9%, Flatbed +2.7%)
- Contract rates remained relatively stable with minimal changes
- Flatbed segment showed resilience with slight volume increase (+0.4%) and rate growth (+1¢)
- Significant monthly volume decline in van (-8.5%) and reefer (-11.3%) segments
- Sharp drop in spot rates: van (-11¢) and reefer (-18¢) per mile
- Widening spread between contract and spot rates indicates weakening carrier pricing power
- Potential flattened peak shipping season expected in spring/summer
The DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), a measure of dry van, refrigerated (“reefer”), and flatbed loads moved in a month, decreased for van and reefer freight:
-
Van TVI: 258, down
8.5% compared to January -
Reefer TVI: 212, down
11.3% -
Flatbed TVI: 263, up
0.4%
February typically has lower volumes compared to January due to fewer business days. However, year-over-year comparisons were positive, with the Van TVI up
“Freight shippers and brokers were eager to put February behind them, despite favorable spot rates for van and reefer freight,” said Ken Adamo, DAT Chief of Analytics. “However, uncertainty about the economy and the artificial acceleration of freight movements ahead of tariff deadlines may lead to a flattened peak shipping season in spring and early summer.”
Spot rates dropped after January gains
Average spot market rates for van and reefer loads declined to pre-holiday-season levels:
-
Van:
$2.04 11 cents from January -
Reefer:
$2.36 18 cents -
Flatbed:
$2.45 1 cent
Linehaul rates, which exclude an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge, followed similar patterns. The van linehaul rate averaged
Spot flatbed rates moved higher, particularly for freight such as construction materials, machinery, steel, and oversized cargo. In some cases, the threat of higher tariffs prompted shippers to move these commodities ahead of a change in policy.
Contract pricing remained steady
While spot rates declined in February, contract freight rates were relatively stable:
-
Contract Van:
$2.43 1 cent month over month and7 cents lower than February 2024 -
Contract Reefer:
$2.75 14 cents lower year over year -
Contract Flatbed:
$3.05 2 cents month over month and7 cents lower year over year
Spread between spot and contract rates jumped for vans, reefers
The difference between contract and spot rates for vans and reefers widened substantially in February, marking the first expansion since September 2024:
-
Van:
39 cents per mile, up10 cents compared to January -
Reefer:
39 cents , up18 cents -
Flatbed:
60 cents , down3 cents
An increasing gap between spot and contract rates indicates a shift in pricing power toward shippers and brokers.
About the DAT Truckload Volume Index
The DAT Truckload Volume Index reflects the change in the number of loads with a pickup date during that month. A baseline of 100 equals the number of loads moved in January 2015, as recorded in DAT RateView, a database tracking rates paid on an average of 3 million loads per month.
DAT benchmark spot rates are derived from invoice data for hauls of 250 miles or more with a pickup date during the month reported. Linehaul rates exclude an amount equal to an average fuel surcharge.
About DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics operates DAT One, North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace; DAT iQ, the industry’s leading freight data analytics service; and Trucker Tools, the leader in load visibility. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding
Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. Headquartered in
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DAT Contact
Georgia Jablon
PR@dat.com / georgia.jablon@dat.com
Source: DAT Freight & Analytics
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