Market Conditions 12/13/2015-12/19/2015

This week's market bounced from last week's decrease in spot loads. Collectively, spot market loads went up 7% with a 10% decrease in truck availability. The markets tightened significantly after Wednesday (12/16/15) due to the final push in preparation for the holidays. When taking all averages, reefer rates remained flat but jumped at the end of the week averaging a 1% increase, van rates remained unchanged and flatbed rates were also 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: $1.98/mi, Van: $1.78/mi, Flatbed: $1.92/mi.

As seen below, densities jumped towards the end of this week. We anticipate rates to continue to climb through the holiday season. Watch for poor weather conditions causing rates to rise in the Northwest and mountain states.

Refrigerated Freight

The Heartland, South/Southeast, and Mexican border regions of the U.S. are continuing to show an increase in freight volumes. Expect lower volume in the Northeastern, Northwester, and Southwestern regions in the weeks ahead. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Idaho have tight markets, shipping potatoes. For those of you booking trucks, plan on booking ahead of time as trucks become very scarce by midday. Expect to see an increase in load volumes in Georgia and Florida. The Mexican border crossing's produce volumes continue on their anticipated rise. The Texas Valley and southern AZ will continue to tighten up. California is back to flat with one-to-one or less loads to truck volumes shipping citrus and mixed vegetables.

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 12/18/15

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 12/18/15

-United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market News https://www.marketnews.usda.gov 12/18/15

Dry Freight

Load availability increased another 3% this week while truck availability dropped 2%. Price has jumped in most regions of the U.S. Regions of higher freight densities include Illinois, western Kentucky and surrounding state borders, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Southeast, Southwest and the Northwest.

Monday: