PORTLAND, Ore.-- In September, the national average for spot market rates rose two percent for both dry vans and refrigerated (“reefer”) vans compared to August. Flatbed rates remained stable, month-over-month. Rates appear to be following a more traditional seasonal trend.

Spot market rates were helped by rate improvements for all equipment types on outbound lanes from Chicago and Philadelphia. Chicago lanes benefitted from the Great Lakes region produce harvest, which lifted reefer rates. Both key market areas saw van rates rise due to increased consumer goods freight.

By contrast, September rates from Los Angeles declined for all equipment types compared to August, according to TransCore’s Truckload Rate Index. Reduced port activity and produce contributed to the decline. However, assuming historic trends hold, as consumer goods arrive from Asia for the Christmas season, load volumes from Los Angeles are expected to increase with a corresponding increase in rates.

TransCore Trendlines is published weekly with spot market and contract market rates, and other key indicators from TransCore's U.S. Freight Index. It is based on more than 60 million loads and trucks posted annually on the DAT Network of load boards by freight brokers, 3PLs, shippers and carriers across the U.S. TransCore Trendlines also includes industry data from the American Trucking Associations and the U.S. Department of Energy.