Van freight volumes were up more than 7% last week, providing positive momentum going into the fourth quarter. Houston had a big comeback, with volumes up 20%.
Flooding in the Houston area disrupted the supply chain in Texas and beyond, while strong harvests led to reefer rate increases in several Midwest markets.
Tropical Storm Imelda hit the Gulf Coast last week, bringing up to 40 inches of rain to the Houston area, and disrupting supply chains throughout the region.
Flatbed freight has lagged for much of the year, but demand spiked on the top flatbed lanes last week. A big part of that was due to increased activity from inland Southeast markets shipping into areas impacted by Hurricane Dorian.
Apple harvests and the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on the East Coast rearranged supply chains, tightened capacity, and boosted rates on several lanes last week.
The negative news we’ve been reporting for reefer produce turned around last week, as robust apple harvests were underway in several markets throughout the country.
Last summer, the spot market didn't have enough trucks to meet the surge in demand, which gave rates a major boost. Now, we are seeing more traditional fluctuations on the market.
