BEAVORTON, Ore. — The number of loads posted on DAT One continues to slide, falling 17.6% the week of Feb. 11 to 647,166.
It was the fourth straight week of declines, according to a news release.
The number of loads has fallen almost 47% since the third week of the year and was 60% lower year over year, DAT’s report notes.
Looking at each equipment type, load posts for vans, reefers and flatbeds were the lowest week seven totals in at least eight years.
The data shows:
▼ Van loads at 264,181, down 21.3% compared to the previous week and 61% lower year over year
▼ Reefer loads at 114,372, down 25.5% week over week and 61% lower year over year
▼ Flatbed loads at 268,613, down 9.3% week over week and 59% lower year over year
Truck posts fell by 7.5%
After a bump in week six, the number of trucks posted to DAT One decreased by 7.5% to 328,828, settling back in line with other weeks this year. Still, that’s down 21% year over year and 22% lower than the same week in 2020.
The data shows:
▼ Van equipment at 218,356, down 6.4% and 20% lower year over year
▼ Reefer equipment at 58,988, down 11.1% and 29% lower year over year
▼ Flatbed equipment at 40,576, down 7.8% and 13% lower year over year
Load-to-truck ratios edged lower for all three equipment types
The average van, reefer and flatbed load-to-truck ratios were the lowest on record for week seven, reflecting weaker demand for truckload capacity on the spot market.
The data shows:
▼ Vans at 1.2, down from 1.4 the previous week
▼ Reefers at 1.9, down from 2.3 the previous week
▼ Flatbeds at 6.5, down from 6.7 the previous week
Benchmark rates continued to soften the week of Feb. 11; reefer spot rate dropped 9 cents
The national benchmark van rate was $1.60 net fuel, down 5 cents. The broker-to-carrier rate was $2.08 (fuel: 48 cents), and the contract rate was $2.03 net fuel, down 2 cents.
The reefer rate was $1.90 net fuel, down 9 cents. The broker-to-carrier rate was $2.42 (fuel: 52 cents), and the contract rate was $2.39 net fuel, down 2 cents.
The flatbed rate was $1.93 net fuel, down 2 cents. The broker-to-carrier rate was $2.50 (fuel: 57 cents), and the contract rate was $2.52 net fuel, down 8 cents.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
