September 2021 Freight Rate & Trucking Update
Current Freight Rates – September 2021
September 15, 2021
Cass Information Systems has released the Transportation Index Report for August. Cass reports the shipments component grew 12% year over year in August. The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index in August rose 1.1% over July and 12.6% year over year. Cass expects the equipment and driver shortages to continue into the near future.
Trucking News – US Freight Rates
September 13, 2021 – Courtesy of DAT Trendlines
September 2021 Freight Rates |
|||
| Sep 06 – Sep 12 vs Aug 30 – Sep 05 | Aug 2021 vs Jul 2021 | Aug 2021 vs Aug 2020 | |
| Spot Market Loads | -18.5% |
+11.9% | +48.6% |
| Spot Market Capacity | -7.0% | +3.3% | +10.1% |
| Van Load-To-Truck | -10.0% | +11.3% | +21.6% |
| Van Rates (Spot) | +1.7% | +1.1% | +23.8% |
| Flatbed Load-To-Truck | -9.4% | -0.6% | +40.1% |
| Flatbed Rates (Spot) | +0.5% | -1.4% | +33.8% |
| Reefer Load-To-Truck | -18.5% | +18.7% | +60.0% |
| Reefer Rates (Spot) | +1.0% | +0.4% | +29.0% |
| Fuel Prices | +1.0% | +0.3% | +37.9% |
DAT.com reports truckload rates remain steady. DAT’s September 13th Trendlines Report shows current national van rate averages are at $2.84 per mile, an $.09 increase from the August average. According to DAT, the highest average van rates are in the Midwest at $2.99 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the Northeast at $2.53 per mile.
DAT reports the current national load-to-truck ratio is 6.22 loads to truck, compared to the August 22nd average of 6.40. Ratios are high from the Great Lakes states, and central plains. The lowest ratios are in the Southeast and desert Southwest.
Reefer freight rates are averaging $3.24 per mile, up $.10 from the August average. Reefer rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $3.49 per mile, and the lowest rates are in the Southeast, with an average of $2.81 per mile.
National reefer capacity is at 12.75 loads to truck, compared to the August 22nd average of 14.24. Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is high throughout most of the country. The lowest ratios are in Southeast and Southwest states.
National average flatbed rates are currently at $3.06 per mile, the same as the August average. The Midwest has the highest average flatbed rates at $3.25 per mile; the lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $2.71 per mile. Nationally, load-to-truck ratios are at 42.96, compared to 41.53 on August 22nd. Load ratios remain high throughout the country. For more details, visit Dat.com.
Turning to fuel prices, the latest Energy Information Administration data shows the national average diesel price is at $3.37 per gallon, a $.01 increase from one month ago. Regional diesel prices range from $3.10 in the gulf coast states to $3.49 in the central Atlantic region. California diesel prices are averaging $4.31 per gallon.
*Diesel fuel price map as of September 14, 2021.
| 08/30/21 | 09/06/21 | 09/13/21 | One Week Ago | One Year Ago | |
| US | 3.339 | 3.373 | 3.372 | -0.001 | +0.950 |
| East Coast (PADD 1) | 3.306 | 3.332 | 3.337 | +0.005 | +0.838 |
| New England (PADD 1A) | 3.271 | 3.285 | 3.288 | +0.003 | +0.683 |
| Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) | 3.474 | 3.483 | 3.486 | +0.003 | +0.810 |
| Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) | 3.201 | 3.240 | 3.246 | +0.006 | +0889 |
| Midwest (PADD 2) | 3.241 | 3.284 | 3.282 | -0.002 | +0.974 |
| Gulf Coast (PADD 3) | 3.060 | 3.104 | 3.099 | -0.005 | +0.927 |
| Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) | 3.628 | 3.645 | 3.636 | -0.009 | +1.268 |
| West Coast (PADD 5) | 3.997 | 4.020 | 4.016 | -0.004 | +1.061 |
| West Coast less California | 3.645 | 3.664 | 3.661 | -0.003 | +1.086 |
| California | 4.291 | 4.316 | 4.313 | -0.003 | +1.046 |
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