Market Conditions 4/16/2017-4/22/2017

This week's market has exhibited comparable volumes to last week. Load availability increased 0.2% and truck availability decreased by 0.5%. Load to truck ratios for flatbed freight still remain high on a national average with more than 35 loads to each truck. Reefer and van rates also have elevated load to truck ratios with rates continuing to respond to the increased demand. When taking all averages, reefer rates increased 1%, van rates held flat, and flatbed rates increased by 0.5%. Taking an average of rate points from various metrics, we have found the national average rates to be the following: Reefer: $2.00/mi, Van: $1.71/mi, Flatbed: $2.11/mi.

Densities overall have been on the rebound for all three equipment types. Volumes at the Mexican border hubs continue to remain elevated. Production and shipping continues to be on the rise for flatbed and van freight especially in the South and Midwest.

Refrigerated Freight

The volumes in the reefer market held steady but remained high this week with produce shipments continuing to rise. The Arizona and Texas border crossing volumes remain high. South and Central Florida volumes continue on their steady rise with rates continuing higher as well. Florida continues to ship mixed vegetables, berries, tomatoes, and melons. California's produce season is also in full swing with rates continuing to increase on all outbound lanes. In the Northeast, the Buffalo and Rochester markets continue to have the densest load to truck ratios, shipping various processed foods and dairy. The Heartland, parts of the Midwest, especially Texas and Arkansas held onto their elevated load to truck ratios for another week.

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Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Reefer Densities 4/22/17

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 4/22/17

Dry Freight

On a national average, load availability increased by 1.5% and truck postings decreased by 1%. Similar to the reefer market, the van market had the highest load to truck densities in California, the Heartland, Texas, Midwest, and the Gulf Coast states. These areas of higher densities also offer the highest outbound rates.

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Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Van Densities 4/22/17

Flatbed Densities

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Friday:

-DAT Power Load to Truck Flatbed Densities 4/22/17

Diesel Pricing

Diesel prices increased 1.5 cents this week, bringing the national average price to $2.597 per gallon. This marks a 43.2 cent increase from the same week last year.