Indicators: Spot rates rosier in September

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Updated Oct 4, 2019

CCJ‘s Indicators rounds up the latest reports on trucking business indicators on rates, freight, equipment, the economy and more.

National average per-mile spot market rates data from recent Septembers.National average per-mile spot market rates data from recent Septembers.

Spot market rates in September mostly rallied from August, positive news amid an otherwise rough 2019 for spot rates and in line with typical seasonal spot market trends.

According to monthly rates data from Truckstop.com, per-mile averages for dry van and reefer segments saw healthy gains, while flatbed, whose primary freight season is in the spring months, held flat.

Reefer rates climbed 8 cents in September to $2.44 a mile. That’s 14 cents cheaper than September 2018’s average but 16 cents higher than September 2017.

Dry van rates gained a nickel in September. The segment’s $2.17 a mile national average was 20 cents lower than the same month last year and 3 cents cheaper than September 2017.

Lastly, flatbed rates held at $2.33 a mile — down significantly from September 2018’s $2.72 a mile average and down 9 cents from September 2017.