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March 2023 Freight Rate & Trucking Update

Current Freight Rates – March 2023

March 20, 2023

Factoring for trucking companies

Trucking News – US Freight Rates

March 28, 2023 – Courtesy of DAT Trendlines 

February 2023 Freight Rates

Mar 20 – Mar 26 vs. Mar 13 – Mar 19 Feb 2023 vs Jan 2023 Feb 2023 vs Feb 2022
Spot Market Loads -9.7% -17.4% -70.2%
Spot Market Capacity +3.8% -9.7% +16.4%
Van Load-To-Truck -11.0% -16.1% -65.6%
Van Rates (Spot) -1.4% -5.3% -27.0%
Flatbed Load-To-Truck -14.4% +9.1% -83.8%
Flatbed Rates (Spot) +0.4% -1.6% -14.9%
Reefer Load-To-Truck -13.8% -20.8% -72.0%
Reefer Rates (Spot) -1.5% -6.6% -26.1%
Fuel Prices -1.5% -3.6% +9.4%

Van Freight Rates – March 23, 2023

DAT.com’s March 21st Trendlines Report shows current national van rate averages are at $2.20 per mile, a $.06 decrease from the February average.

According to DAT, the highest average van rates are in the Midwest at $2.47 per mile. The lowest average van rates are in the West at $2.01 per mile.

DAT reports the current national load-to-truck ratio is 2.08 loads to truck, compared to the February 21st average of 2.47. Ratios are highest in the Southeast states. The lowest ratios are in the southwest.

Average van freight rates as of March 23, 2023

Reefer Freight Rates – March 23, 2023

Reefer freight rates are averaging $2.54 per mile, an $.08 decrease from the February average. Reefer rates are highest in the Midwest, averaging $2.99 per mile. The lowest rates are in the Southeast, with an average of $2.33 per mile.

National reefer capacity is at 3.13 loads to truck, compared to the February 21st average of 3.47 loads to truck.

Current load-to-truck capacity shows reefer demand is highest in the Southeast. The southwest has the lowest load-to-truck ratios.

 

Average reefer freight rates by region as of March 21, 2023.

Flatbed Freight Rates – March 23, 2023

National average flatbed rates are currently $2.73 per mile, $.02 higher than the February average.

The Midwest has the highest average flatbed rates at $3.01 per mile; the lowest rates are in the West, with an average of $2.28 per mile.

Nationally, load-to-truck ratios are at 16.51, compared to 13.97 on February 21st. Load ratios are highest in the northern plains and Pacific Northwest. The Southwest has the lowest load to truck ratios. For more details, visit Dat.com.

Average flatbed freight rates in the US as of March 21 2023

*Diesel fuel price map as of March 23, 2023.

Checking fuel prices, the national average diesel price is $4.19 a gallon compared to $4.38 one month ago and is down $.95 compared to one year ago.

The highest average prices are in the New England states at $4.66 a gallon, the lowest are in the gulf coast states at $3.93 per gallon. California diesel prices are averaging $5.26 per gallon.

Average US diesel fuel prices as of March 22, 2023

Change from
03/13/23 03/20/23 03/28/23 Week Ago Year Ago
US 4.247 4.185 4.128 -0.057 -1.057
East Coast (PADD 1) 4.360 4.309 4.241 -0.068 -1.008
New England (PADD 1A) 4.731 4.657 4.611 -0.046 -0.698
Central Atlantic (PADD 1B) 4.699 4.647 4.551 -0.096 -0.849
Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) 4.196 4.148 4.087 -0.061 -1.058
Midwest (PADD 2) 4.094 4.021 3.974 -0.047 -1.020
Gulf Coast (PADD 3) 3.998 3.930 3.882 -0.048 -1.090
Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) 4.431 4.350 4.231 -0.119 -0.813
West Coast (PADD 5) 4.898 4.862 4.803 -0.059 -1.071
West Coast less California 4.538 4.515 4.488 -0.027 -0.914
California 5.312 5.260 5.165 -0.095 -1.124

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