Market Conditions 10/25/2015-10/31/2015

This week's market presented us with an increase in spot market capacity, up 3% overall with a 2% increase in load availability. When taking all averages, reefer rates increased 0.5%, van rates increased 1% and flatbed rates we unchanged compared to last week's rates. Taking an average of rate points from various metrics, we have found the national average rates to be the following: Reefer: $1.97/mi, Van: $1.73/mi, Flatbed: $1.98/mi.

Refrigerated Freight

The Northeast, Upper Midwest and Northwestern regions of the U.S. are showing signs of the end of the busy season. Expect lower volume in those regions in the weeks ahead. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Idaho have tight markets, shipping potatoes. Expect to see an increase in load volumes in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. The Mexican border crossings are beginning to see more freight as well. The Texas Valley and southern AZ will continue to tighten up. California is beginning to ship higher volumes of citrus and mixed vegetables, and towards the end of this week we observed slightly higher freight rates. The Thanksgiving push will begin the first week of November, expect to see a rate spike in most regions but most noticeably in California and the Mexican border states.

The rates below are average direct from customer rates. The bold line is the origin, left column is the destination. The following two columns are weekly ranges from the previous week. The next two columns are this week's ranges and the final column on the right is the percent changes from last week to this week.

-United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market News https://www.marketnews.usda.gov 10/30/15

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 10/30/15

-United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market News https://www.marketnews.usda.gov 10/30/15

Dry Freight

Load availability increased 2% while truck availability increased slightly as well. Please note in the map below that densities are significantly higher than last week at this same time. Price has seemed to plateau in the southeast and southern regions. Areas of the northeast have seen a slight increase in line haul rates and the midwest has remained steady or slightly increased. Regions of higher freight densities include the Illinois, western Kentucky, the Upper Midwest, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Upstate New York.