Market Conditions 2/28/2016-3/5/2016
This week's market presented us with an increase of available loads. Collectively, spot market loads increased 4% with a 2% decrease in truck availability. When taking all averages, reefer rates remained flat again while van rates decreased 1% and flatbed rates increased 1% 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: $1.81/mi, Van: $1.58/mi, Flatbed: $1.88/mi.
As seen below, densities overall have increased this week for all three equipment types. We anticipate the Mexican border hubs to continue their increase in freight volume as it seems that the January/February slowdown has ended. Watch for poor weather conditions that cause rates to rise in all regions of the United States during any significant storm.
Refrigerated Freight
The Heartland, South, Midwest and Mexican border regions of the U.S. have higher but still manageable freight volumes again this week. Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Idaho have tighter markets but have continued to slowly loosen up, shipping potatoes, onions and meats. Arkansas, southern Missouri, and southern Illinois are shipping chicken. Expect to see a continued increase in load volumes in Florida shipping potatoes, melons, strawberries and mixed greens. We saw a spike in volume on Thursday and Friday causing spot rates to rise roughly $0.20/mi from previous averages. Southern California has continues its volume increase of citrus and mixed vegetables with spot market rates beginning to climb as well.
Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 3/5/16
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 3/5/16

-United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market News https://www.marketnews.usda.gov 3/5/16
Dry Freight
Load availability increased 2% on a national average this week while truck availability decreased 1%. Price has stabilized in most regions of the United States. Regions of higher freight densities include Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Texas Valley.
Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Van Densities 3/5/16
Flatbed Densities
Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Flatbed Densities 3/5/16
Diesel Pricing
Diesel rose 0.6 cents this week, bringing the national average price to $1.989 per gallon. This marks a $0.947 drop from the same week last year.

-U.S. Energy Information Administration, Independent Statistics & Analysis http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ 3/5/16
National Truck Shipments

-United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, Market News https://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/ 3/5/16
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