DAT: Truck capacity and rates fall in February

Truckload spot availability decreased 6% compared to January, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.    According to the DAT North American Freight Index, which measures conditions of the spot truckload freight market, spot market freight availability decreased 6 percent in February compared with January and 37 percent compared to February 2014. The Portland, Ore.-based research firm said the decline is part of a “seasonal pattern that mimics the first quarter of 2013 but at higher volume.”
   Freight volumes fell 3.9 percent for vans, 3.4 percent for flatbeds and 18 percent for refrigerated trailers in February. Year-over-year freight volumes were down 34 percent for vans, 45 percent for flatbeds and 15 percent for reefers compared to the “extraordinary market environment of February 2014,” said DAT.
   Rates on the truckload spot freight market decreased 1.9 percent for vans, 3.2 percent for flatbeds and 5.2 percent for reefers. Year-over-year line haul rates, on the other hand, increased 6.7 percent for vans, 8.4 percent for flatbeds and 7.7 percent for reefers, to compensate for declining fuel surcharges.
   DAT reference rates are derived from DAT RateView and are cited for line haul only, excluding fuel surcharges, which declined significantly on both a month-over-month and year-over-year basis. The monthly DAT North American Freight Index reflects spot market freight availability on the DAT Network of load boards in the United States and Canada.