BEAVERTON, OR – Freight availability was up 51% and capacity surged 69%, in the first full work week of 2015, according to DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards.

Truckload rates slipped lower for vans, flatbeds and reefers, partly due to declining fuel surcharges.

For vans, load board activity surged Jan. 4-10, adding 46% more van load posts and 64% more truck posts, compared to the previous week. The load-to-truck ratio slipped 11%, from 4.3 to 3.9 loads per truck.

The national ratio averaged 3.7 for vans in December, a 5.9% increase compared to November, and 0.7% above the level of December 2013. Load posts increased on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis.

The national average rate for vans lost another 6¢ per mile last week, to $2.01.

Flatbed load availability was up 72% and truckload capacity more than doubled (139% increase) in the first full week of 2015. The load-to-truck ratio lost 28% for the week, from 22.9 back to 16.5 loads per truck.

Load volume dipped 1.2% for flatbeds in December compared to November, and capacity increased 3.1%, yielding a 4.2% decline in the load-to-truck ratio, month over month. The ratio rose 12.6% compared to December 2013, however, due primarily to increased demand.

Flatbed rates dipped 2¢ last week to $2.29 per mile, due in part to a decline in the fuel surcharge. 

Demand for reefers increased 39% last week, and capacity surged 45%, as trucking and logistics pros returned to work after the holidays. The resulting load-to-truck ratio declined 4.0%, from 13.9 to 13.4 reefer loads per truck.

Reefer load availability rose 4.1% and capacity added 8.3% in December, compared to November. The resulting load-to-truck ratio dipped 4.2%, to 10.6. Compared to December 2013, the ratio declined 5.3%.

The national average rate lost 3¢ for reefers last week, to $2.35 per mile, partly due to another decline in the average fuel surcharge.