PORTLAND, OR — There’s usually more freight to be hauled in December than January due to Christmas rush, most likely, but that’s not so in January 2014. For only the second time since as far back as 1996, there was more freight in January than December by 24 percent, according to new figures from the freight-matching service provider DAT.

Since the same time last year, freight volumes increased by 45 percent to a record level not experienced since October 2005, when pent-up demand drove volume to an all-time high in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Van freight increased 52 percent, reefer loads added 83 percent and flatbed freight nearly doubled, with a-93 percent increase.

There were 21 percent more loads in January for both vans and reefers, while flatbed loads increased 33 percent compared to the prior month.

Rates on the spot market also remained unusually high in January, despite a slight decline from December’s rate surge. Rates dipped 1.4 percent for vans, 0.6percent for reefers and 5.5 percent for flatbeds. Compared to January 2013, rates rose 16 percent for vans, 4.7 percent for reefers and four percent for flatbeds.

Rates are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which increased on a month-over-month basis but declined compared to January 2013. DAT’s North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the TransCore DAT network of load boards in the United States and Canada.