Market Conditions 4/17/2016-4/23/2016

This week's market presented us with another increase of available loads. Collectively, spot market loads increased 4% with a 2% increase in truck availability. When taking all averages, reefer rates held steady, van rates decreased by 1%, and flatbed rates decreased by 0.5% 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: $1.83/mi, Van: $1.56/mi, Flatbed: $1.91/mi.

Densities crept up this week for all three equipment types. We anticipate the Mexican border hubs to continue shipping higher freight volumes. Production and shipping continues to be on the rise for all three equipment types especially in the South and Midwest.

Refrigerated Freight

The following markets continue to have higher truckload volumes this week: Southern California, the border crossing in AZ/TX Valley, Georgia, and Florida. Florida and Georgia had another spike in load volume towards the end of the week and looks like the high volume will continue. South and Central Florida has virtually no available reefer equipment again this weekend with melons and mixed vegetables now being harvested and corn coming next week. Georgia and South Carolina averaged moderate volumes this week shipping mixed greens and carrots. The Heartland, South, and Midwest regions of the U.S. have elevated but still manageable freight volumes again this week. Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Idaho have continued to slowly loosen up, shipping potatoes, onions and various meats. Arkansas, southern Missouri, and southern Illinois are shipping chicken.

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 4/23/16

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 4/23/16

Dry Freight

Load availability stayed almost flat on a national average this week while truck availability increased 2%. Spot rates have fluctuated where there are higher and lower extremes depending on density of the region. Regions of higher freight densities include Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, The Carolinas, and the Texas Valley.

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Van Densities 4/23/16

Flatbed Densities

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Flatbed Densities 4/23/16

Diesel Pricing

Diesel prices increased 3.7 cents this week, bringing the national average price to $2.165 per gallon. This marks a $0.615 drop from the same week last year.