CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more.
Record tightness on the spot market: The load-to-truck ratio on the spot market in the dry van segment closed December with a record-high 9-to-1 load-to-truck ratio, according to DAT Solutions. That’s the most tilted monthly average ratio since DAT began measuring load-to-truck ratios in 2010. Given the segment’s tightness, per-mile van rates jumped to $2.11, also a record-high for DAT’s spot market data.
The spot market in the second half of 2017 soared, with freight availability seeing big gains, and, thus, driving up rates.
For instance, van rates in January 2017 averaged $1.67 a mile, DAT said — 45 cents lower than December’s average. The load-to-truck ratio in January 2017 was 3.3 loads for every available van hauler on DAT’s board.
Trucking employment dips after four-month rally: Total employment in the for-hire trucking industry fell by 600 jobs in December, according to the Labor Department’s monthly Employment Situation Report. That’s the first decline since a 1,000-job dip in August.
The DOL also downwardly revised November’s gains, down to a 700-job increase from the previously reported 1,800-job uptick.
The economy as a whole in December added 148,000 jobs, and the country’s unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent.
