DAT Truckload Volume Index

From February to March, the the van TVI, at 260, was up 4%, with the refrigerated TVI, at 200, up 2.6%, and the flatbed TVI, at 242, up 4.4%.

In this podcast, Jeff Berman, Group News Editor for Logistics Management and the Peerless Media Supply Chain Group, interviews Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics for DAT Freight & Analytics.

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 Van TVI was down 15.5% compared to March, to 233, and down 12.3% annually; the Reefer TVI was down 16.3% compared to March, to 154, and down 12.5% annually; and the Flatbed TVI was down 13.7% compared to March, to 239, and up 3.5% annually (DAT said that these marked the lowest van and reefer TVI numbers going back to February 2021, when a polar vortex and harsh winter storms severely impacted logistics activity across wide areas of the U.S. and Canada).

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.

November’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 218—fell 9.5% compared to October, while falling 4.4% annually. The October refrigerated (reefer) TVI—at 170—was down 4.5% sequentially and off 5.0% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 218—was down 11% sequentially and posted a 13% annual gain.

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.

August’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 258—was up 11% compared to July, marking its highest-ever August reading and a 12% annual gain. The refrigerated (reefer) TVI came in at 182, for an 8.2% gain, with the flatbed TVI up 12.5%, to 251.

12.5%, for the same period (down 7.1% annually and down 1.9% compared to July 2020), and the flatbed TVI down 15.9%, to 217 (up 13.6% annually and up 16% compared to July 2020). DAT said that changes in the TVI represent the number of loads moved with a pickup date during the month.

May’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 256—was down 3.7% compared to April (April was down 10% compared to May), with the refrigerated TVI—at 190—also down 3.7%, and the flatbed TVI—at 240—rose 4.8%, for the same period.

April’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 273—was off 10% compared to March, with the refrigerated TVI—at 190—and the flatbed TVI—at 229—down 10% and 6%, respectively, for the same period. DAT observed that while truckload volumes usually see a decline from March to April, “with freight movement in a seasonal lull,” that was not the case this April, with the April TVI seeing van freight up 12%, reefers up 10.5%, and flatbed loads up 15.1%, which DAT said serves as an indicator of...

March’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 305—was up 23% compared to February, while the refrigerated TVI—at 206—and the flatbed TVI—at 247—were up 13% and 24%, respectively, for the same period. DAT said that these readings indicate that more loads moved in March, a month which also had more shipping days than February.

January’s reading—at 229—was off 3% compared to December, but it still represented the highest-ever TVI reading in January, while posting a 15% annual increase. DAT said that the number of loads posted to the DAT One load board network saw a 34.7% increase, from December to January, and were up 104.7% annually.