Seasonal spot market dip hardly noticeable

PORTLAND, Ore. — January spot-market freight availability was the highest on record with a 62-percent increase over January 2010 volumes, according to TransCore’s North American Freight Index.

This is also the seventh straight month when year-over-year volumes surpassed the record-setting levels of 2005.

January’s load availability lagged December’s volume by only 2.8 percent, the smallest month-over-month dip in the past decade, when the average was a 15 percent decline from December to January.

In keeping with seasonal trends, though, the average line-haul spot market rates cooled for refrigerated trucks for the second consecutive month, with a $0.05 (3.4 percent) decline to $1.42 per mile in January, compared to December. Dry van rates dipped by $0.03 (1.6 percent) in January, while flatbed rates dropped by $0.01 per mile.

When these spot market rates are compared to January 2010, however, they show increases for all equipment types.

Year-over-year, van rates increased by 14 percent, flatbeds commanded an 11 percent increase and reefer rates rose by 6 percent. Spot market rates are the rates that brokers and 3PLs pay to the carrier.