Contract Rates

The van TVI, at 245, down 4% compared to January, with the reefer TVI, at 193, down 4% compared to January, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, increased 3% compared to January.

The new edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which was recently issued by DAT Freight & Analytics, noted that spot freight volumes rose to all-time highs, for the month of January, driven by what it described as a weather-related bump in demand for truckload capacity.

The December edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which was recently issued by DAT Freight & Analytics, highlighted what the company described as the most significant narrowing in the gap between spot and contract van rates, going back to March 2022, a period when truckload prices nearly were at their highest point ever.

The November edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index (TVI), which was recently issued by DAT Freight & Analytics, showed a solid post-Thanksgiving bump in truckload freight volumes compared to previous Novembers.  

Logistics Management (LM) Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently spoke with Matt Muenster, Chief Economist for Green Bay, Wisc.-based Breakthrough, an innovator in transportation management, dedicated to creating transparent and fair strategies for the world’s leading shippers. Muenster provided Berman with an overview of the impact of the recently-issued third quarter GDP estimate and its impact on logistics and supply chain strategies.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently caught up with Drew Wilkerson, CEO of Charlotte, N.C.-based RXO, the fourth-largest full truckload broker in the United States, and asset-light transportation services provider. Wilkerson provided updates and analysis on various market trends and topics, including: the state of the freight economy; the spot market; pricing; and nearshoring, among others.

The Van TVI was down 1% compared to May, to 230, and down 10% annually, and the reefer TVI was down 3% compared to May, to 167 and down 4.6% annually. The flatbed TVI increased 2% over May, to 267, down 1.2% annually.

The Van TVI was up 5% compared to April, to 220, the reefer TVI was up 5% compared to April, to 164, and the flatbed TVI was up 7% compared to April, to 258.

The ATA’s advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, for May, came in at 115.4 (2015=100), for a 2.4% increase, following decreases of 1.7% and 2.8%, in April and March, respectively.

DAT officials explained that despite higher freight volumes, March’s low rates ended what it called a challenging quarter experienced by the majority of truckload carriers and freight brokers, with the exception of flatbed freight, as spot market pricing and demand have been steady year-to-date.

February’s van freight TVI—at 207—fell 8%, from January to February, and was down 5% annually. The refrigerated (reefer) TVI—at 162—was down 7.9% compared to January and off 4.7% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 217—was in line with January’s 218 reading and up 7.9% annually. DAT observed that these lower February TVI readings are not uncommon, due to February having fewer days.

January’s van freight TVI—at 223—was up 2.8% compared to December and also up 2.8% annually. The refrigerated TVI—at 174—was up 3.0% compared to December and up 3.6% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 218—was up 10.7% compared to December and was up 12.4% annually.

The debut of RXO was made official today, with the spin-off of XPO Logistics truck brokerage and asset-light transportation units now officially complete. RXO began trading today on the New York Stock Exchange, and it is the fourth-largest full truckload broker in the United States. The company has roughly 7,400 employees, with its technology-enabled truck brokerage business connecting shippers across various verticals to around 100,000 independent carriers and more than 1.5 million trucks. RXO’s corporate headquarters are in Charlotte, N.C.

September’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 228—was off 13.7% compared to what it called “an unusually active August,” while remaining in line with previous years. And it added that the TVI was 2.9% below September 2021 and up 1.8% compared to September 2020. The September refrigerated (reefer) TVI was down 9.7% to 168, and the flatbed TVI was down 10.5%, to 231.

June’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 240—was up 6% compared to May, with the refrigerated TVI—at 173—down 0.6%, and the flatbed TVI up 5%, to 245. DAT said that changes in the TVI represent the number of loads moved with a pickup date during the month.