Market Conditions 5/29/2016-6/4/2016

This week's market presented us with another increase in available loads. Collectively, spot market loads increased 2% with a 4% decrease in truck availability. When taking all averages, reefer rates increased by 0.5%, van rates increased by 0.5%, 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: $1.89/mi, Van: $1.59/mi, Flatbed: $1.94/mi.

Load densities on a national average came up this week for van, reefer, and flatbed freight. Production and shipping continues to be on the rise for all three equipment types especially in the Midwest and entire Sun Belt. With DOT week being next week, we anticipate significantly fewer trucks to be available on the spot market.

Refrigerated Freight

The following states continue to have higher truckload volumes this week: California, the border crossings in Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Florida's season is coming to an end in the south and central parts of the state. Volumes dropped this week along with many of the spot market rates.

We predict that the high volume will continue further north next week with melons, mixed vegetables, and blueberries being harvested. The Heartland, South, and Midwest regions of the U.S. have elevated but still manageable freight volumes. Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Idaho are loose, shipping potatoes, onions and various meats. Arkansas, southern Missouri, and southern Illinois are shipping chicken with melons just beginning. Blues are shipping in North Carolina and peaches have just started in South Carolina. Produce will continue to progress further north in the next few weeks as we get closer to the summer months.

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 6/4/16

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 6/4/16

Dry Freight

Load availability increased 3% on a national average this week while truck availability dropped by 2%. Spot rates are highest in the sunbelt region of the U.S. Regions of higher freight densities include Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolina's. California, Arizona, and Georgia are shipping melons and onions on vented vans in order to ship the required orders.

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Van Densities 6/4/16

Flatbed Densities

Monday:

Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Flatbed Densities 6/4/16

Diesel Pricing

Fuel prices increased 2.5 cents this week, bringing the national average price to $2.382 per gallon. This marks a $0.527 drop from the same week last year.