Portland, OR – Spot market freight volume continued to achieve record-setting levels in August, increasing 32 percent compared to the same month in 2013. Freight availability remained constant from July to August, with a 0.4 percent uptick month over month, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.

Compared to August 2013, freight volume rose for all three equipment categories in the U.S. Van load availability rose 36 percent, while refrigerated (“reefer”) freight added 31 percent and flatbed volume surged 56 percent. National average spot truckload rates also increased, with van and flatbed rates both adding 14 percent, and reefer rates up 5.7 percent.

Compared to July, freight volume was stable for vans with a 0.2 percent increase, and freight for reefer trailers increased 6.2 percent. Loads for flatbeds declined 2.4 percent, however, from July’s atypically strong demand. Spot market truckload rates for all three equipment categories receded from extraordinary mid-summer heights. Van rates slid 1.3 percent, reefer rates lost 2.2 percent, and flatbed rates drifted 0.5 percent lower, month over month.

Reference rates are derived from DAT RateView. Rates are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which declined on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis. The monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the DAT Network of load boards in the United States and Canada. Additional trends and analysis are available at DAT Trendlines.