Reefer, flatbed rates jog upward in January, van stumbles

Reefer and flatbed rates climbed in the first month of 2017, according to monthly per-mile spot market rate data from Truckstop.com. Van rates, meanwhile, fell 3 cents a mile in the month, ending the segment’s four-month rally.

Van, however, was the only major truckload segment to post higher year-over-year rates. Compared to January 2016, van rates were up 2 cents, to $1.94 a mile:

Reefer rates surged in January from December, climbing 7 cents to $2.09 a mile. Reefer rates were down 4 cents compared to last January:

Flatbed gained 2 cents from December, averaging $2.04 a mile — down a penny from January 2016: