Dry Van

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.

Seasonal trends impacted lower spot market volumes and rates in the September edition of the DAT Truckload Volume Index.

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.

Randolph, Mass.-based RoadOne IntermodaLogistics, a provider of intermodal, distribution, and logistics services, said earlier this week it has acquired Houston-based regional intermodal service provider The Transporter Inc. A purchase price was not disclosed. The Transporter will now be known as Transporter Intermodal Logistics, a division of RoadOne.

February’s reading—at 227—was down 3% compared to January’s 229, which marked the highest-ever TVI reading in January. And while load-posting activity was off sequentially, the number of loads posted to the DAT One load board network saw a solid 24.1% annual increase.

Ascend’s primary focus will be on serving shippers in various verticals, including the consumer goods, packaging, and industrial supply chain, which, they added, usually require products to be shipped quickly and regionally, coupled with what the company called “exacting service requirements.”