Current Freight Rates – November 2018

November 8, 2018

November Freight Rates

DAT.com is reporting that the decline in the national average van, reefer, and flatbed rates has slowed. The West coast has been the biggest driver of demand in the freight market over the past few weeks. With the coming holiday season, analysts expect increased demand, lower capacity, and better freight rates.

November 2018 Freight Rates
	Oct 28-Nov 3 vs Oct 21-27	Oct 2018 vs. Sept 2018	Oct 2018 vs Oct 2017
Spot Market Loads	+3.4%	-10.0%	-10.0%
Spot Market Capacity	-2.8%	+25.0%	+37.0%
Van Load-To-Truck	+9.8%	-32.0%	-15.0%
Van Rates (Spot)	-0.5%	-2.3%	+3.5%
Flatbed Load-To-Truck	-1.2%	-29.0%	-54.0%
Flatbed Rates (Spot)	-0.8%	-3.1%	+6.0%
Reefer Load-To-Truck	+10.0%	-22.0%	-39.0%
Reefer Rates (Spot)	-1.2%	-2.8%	+4.7%
Fuel Prices	-0.7%	+3.2%	+20.0%

*source dat.com

DAT.com is reporting that the decline in the national average van, reefer, and flatbed rates has slowed. The West coast has been the biggest driver of demand in the freight market over the past few weeks. With the coming holiday season, analysts expect increased demand, lower capacity, and better freight rates.

With the beginning of November, the national van rate average has dropped to $2.09, compared to $2.14 at the beginning of October. The highest average rates are on the west coast and the lowest are in the Northeast. Load-to-truck ratios are high in California, Oregon, Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Average reefer freight rates dropped $.07 nationally during the month of October, finishing the month at $2.43 a mile. There is a big discrepancy in rates across the country with the highest rates in the upper Midwest and the lowest in the southeast. DAT reports load-to-truck ratios as being highest in the upper Midwest and Northwest areas of the country.

National flatbed rates continued their decline during October, dropping from an average of $2.55 down to $2.47. The highest average rates are currently in the Northeast, and the lowest are in the southwest. Top areas for load-to-truck ratios are in the Northern Plains states and the Pacific Northwest.

The most recent data from the Energy Information Administration is showing the national average diesel price dropped $.05 to $3.33. Comparing diesel prices to one year ago, prices in most regions of the country are $.40 to $.50 higher. The short-term outlook is for diesel prices to continue to trend down.

For more information on current freight trends, as well as up-to-date news about the trucking industry, visit the trucking news and information page.

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