TransCore’s North American Freight Index climbed 36 percent last month compared to November 2010. This was the third consecutive month with the highest same-month volume since 2005. Compared to October, spot market freight volume slipped 4.4 percent, which is a normal seasonal trend. Spot market freight volume has declined in November since the company established the Index in 1996, with the historical average decline being 15 percent.

TransCore’s monthly North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the company’s network of load boards providing the largest spot marketplace in the United States and Canada with over 60 million loads and trucks annually.

Rate information is also provided by TransCore’s Truckload Rate Index and reflects line-haul rates excluding fuel surcharge. Truckload freight rates increased year-over-year on the spot market in November for all equipment types. When compared to October, rates rose for dry van and refrigerated (“reefer”) in November but declined for flatbeds.

Dry van, the predominant equipment type, rates rose 6.3 percent compared to November 2010 and increased 0.7 percent compared to October. Refrigerated (“reefer”) van rates rose 3.0 percent year-over-year and 1.9 percent month-over-month. National average rates for flatbeds increased 6.4 percent compared to the same-month in 2010 but declined 4.0 percent compared to October.