Indicators: Spot market rates soften some after historic summer run

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Updated Sep 5, 2018
Monthly rates data provided by Truckstop.com.Monthly rates data provided by Truckstop.com.

Rates on the spot market tumbled in August in all three major truckload segments, according to monthly rates data from Truckstop.com, in line with seasonal late-summer downward rates trends. Per-mile rates remain sky high, however, with each segment holding strong year-over-year gains. Rates surged in April, May and June, cresting at record highs in June before receding some in July and August.

Flatbed loads in August averaged $2.70 a mile, according to Truckstop.com’s data. That’s a 15-cent dip from July, but a 36-cent gain from the same month last year. Flatbed rates reached $2.88 a mile in June.

Reefer rates averaged $2.76 a mile in August, according to Truckstop.com — a 17-cent drop from July, but a 64-cent increase from August 2017. Reefer’s per-mile national average topped $3 a mile in June, hitting $3.02.

Per-mile dry van rates averaged $2.47 in August, a 23-cent dip from July. However, they were up 47 cents from August 2017. Dry van rates averaged $2.73 a mile in June.