PORTLAND, Ore. - Freight availability and rates on the spot market increased month-over-month and declined slightly year-over-year according to TransCore’s DAT® North American Freight index. The index was up 40 percent in March compared to February and was down 6.1 percent compared to March 2011 when the spot market achieved record freight volumes in an early spring peak.

TransCore’s monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the company’s network of load boards in the United States and Canada.

Truckload freight rates rose on the spot market in March for all equipment types. For dry vans, the most common equipment type, rates increased 3.2 percent compared to February. Flatbed rates gained 1.2 percent and rates for refrigerated (“reefer”) vans rose 0.7 percent month-over-month.

Compared to March 2011, spot market rates slipped 1.5 percent for vans, while rates were unchanged for flatbeds and reefers. Rate information is derived from the company’s DAT Truckload Rate Index, where more complete data by equipment type is available. Spot market rates are paid by brokers and 3PLs to the carrier.