PORTLAND, Ore.-- TransCore's North American Freight Index marked the seventh consecutive month of record same month spot market freight availability in July. The Index, a measurement of spot market truckload freight volume, increased 22 percent compared to July 2010.

Compared to June, July freight volume declined 24 percent following typical seasonal patterns. Over the prior ten years, July load volumes have declined an average 19 percent on a month-over-month basis, exceeding this year's 24 percent decline in four of those years.

July's seasonal shift in spot market freight volume was reflected in truckload rates, which slipped for vans and refrigerated ("reefers"), but remained stable for flatbeds. For dry vans the national average rate, excluding fuel surcharges, slid 3.6 percent compared to June while remaining flat compared to July 2010. Reefer van rates were down 9.4 percent month-over-month and 0.6 percent year-over-year. Flatbed rates were stable compared to June, but were up 11 percent year-over-year. Spot market rates are paid by brokers and 3PLs to the carrier.

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